Oakland Raiders: A Few Names To Keep, A Few To Dump Ahead Of 2018
By Kevin Saito
Keep: NaVorro Bowman
He’s not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination. Bowman has clearly lost a step, and isn’t great against the pass. He can be adequate, but he’s not going to be great against it. But, they knew that when they signed him halfway through the season.
And since his signing, he’s given the Raiders everything they could have wanted and more.
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Bowman is incredibly solid against the run, a veteran leader, and the quarterback on the defense this team needs. He’s led the team in tackles virtually every week, amassing a total of 69 in his eight games in Silver and Black (45 solo), has a sack, and notched the team’s first interception of the season.
He’s exactly the sort of physical, intimidating middle linebacker the Raiders need. He’s exactly the sort of leader Cory James and Marquel Lee should be learning from and trying to emulate.
Given the slow development of James and Lee, and the dearth of options they currently have at the position, bringing Bowman back seems to be a no-brainer. As long as they can make the dollars work.
He’s indicated a desire to stay in the area he’s called home since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2010, so McKenzie would be wise to figure out how to make all of the different moving parts to keep Bowman in the East Bay work.
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He may not be the same guy who was so dominant earlier in his career. But he’s incredibly competent, is still very physical, plays with guts, grit, and determination. And based on his body of work over his eight games with the team – not to mention stepping in and being effective just days after signing – it’s more than clear that Bowman still has a lot left in the tank.
Oakland’s defense needs a quarterback. Bowman needs a place to call home. McKenzie needs to figure this out.