Hours after Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said they needed help at linebacker, they got help at linebacker. Las Vegas found a willing trade partner in the Carolina Panthers. A deal was struck for linebacker Denzel Perryman.
Denzel Perryman comes back to Bradley
Perryman arrived at Carolina Panthers training camp with a speeding ticket. Unfortunately, a foot injury after being stepped on, as well as a hip flexor injury has kept him off the field. The Panthers elected to put their faith in freshly minted starter Jermaine Carter and go in a different direction.
Compensation update: It's a 6-7 swap of picks. Panthers get their 6th-round pick, Raiders get 7th and Perryman, per source. https://t.co/uz31ufZnlj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2021
Perryman, is a former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers linebacker, one who made his hay playing for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. In 43 games during three seasons under Bradley, Perryman posted 204 tackles, two interceptions, four passes broken up, and two forced fumbles.
Availability is always a question with Perryman. He’s averaged about 4.5 missed games a season over the course of his six-year career. However, when he is healthy, Perryman can be a fixture in stopping the run. His five-foot-11, 240-pound build paired with 4.78 forty-yard dash speed will be just what the Raiders need at linebacker. One issue that may come up is his vaccination status.
Denzel Perryman trade by the numbers…#Raiders acquire:
2021: $990,000 (GTD)
2022: $3.01M#Panthers dead cap:
2021: $1M ($2M cash)
2022: $1Mhttps://t.co/HncKHWEugu— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 26, 2021
My choice, I got nothing against it
Perryman understands the restrictions placed upon athletes who choose to remain unvaccinated. To him, it is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s his choice.
Earlier in camp, Denzel Perryman said that he was not vaccinated and would not take the vaccine either.
HC Rhule talked about the competitive advantage of being vaccinated multiple times.
His injury history probably didn't help, too.
🎥:@WillKunkelFOX46pic.twitter.com/FN3E5NO6bW
— The Riot Report (@RRiotReport) August 26, 2021
How will all of this sit with Jon Gruden and the rest of the organization? Well, that’s anyone’s guess. Gruden and the Raiders have made it a point to educate the players on the vaccine. They are urging them to take it but not requiring it. Nonetheless, the Raiders are at a crossroads in terms of depth and trading for a player who hasn’t played a down of football for the team he signed a two-year deal with in this year’s free agency.
*Top Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images