Oakland Raiders: Bruce Irvin sending signals that he’s back for 2018

Though Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin’s status has been shrouded in mystery, he seems to be sending signals that he’s all in for the coming season.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin‘s status for the coming year has been something of a wild card. Some thought, given his $8.25 million dollar cap hit for 2018, that he’d become a cap casualty. His status with the team has been a source of mystery and intrigue this offseason, to say the least.

With limited cap space and a plethora of needs, the Raiders – with a new coaching regime in place – were thought to be shedding high dollar deals, paving the way for an influx of new, and possibly, younger talent.

With a big dollar deal needed for Khalil Mack immediately – and Amari Cooper on the not too distant horizon – Irvin, Jared Cook, Michael Crabtree, Marshawn Lynch, and Cordarrelle Patterson, among others, have been discussed as potential cap victims.

And that situation – particularly Irvin’s – got a bit murkier when he recently sent out a Tweet, saying he was “unsure Baby Reggie” was coming back.

For the uninitiated, Irvin’s nickname, “Baby Reggie,” comes from his relentless pursuit and recruitment of free agents – an annual rite over his tenure with the Raiders.

With the Raiders already cutting the cord on cornerback David Amerson and his $6 million dollar plus salary, the chips were beginning to fall, and most assumed it was just a matter of time before the Grim Reaper made its way to Irvin’s locker.

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That belief got a little bit stronger with reports that the team was preparing (or already had) asked Irvin to take a pay cut for the 2018 season. Per The Athletic’s John Middlekauf…

"“I’ve heard the new staff likes him, they just want him to take a pay cut. He’s scheduled to make $8.25 million in 2018 and I’m sure the Raiders would like that number to get somewhere closer to the $5 million range.”"

Since that appeared, we’ve heard nothing else about a potential pay cut for Irvin – though, that doesn’t mean it’s not being worked on, or that Irvin hasn’t already flat-out refused to take the haircut for the team. As would be his right.

Whether or not something’s been worked out behind the scenes, HC Jon Gruden, recently spoke at the Scouting Combine and seemed to indicate that he wants Irvin back this season and has the key to unlock his even greater potential.

"“I like Bruce Irvin. I know Bruce Irvin. I like him because he plays. If you look at play time, the amount of percentage of snaps, he’s out there all the time. He played through a back problem early in the season, and I really think he’s playing a difficult position because he’s really an edge player, and when you ask him to play over the tight end or over the offensive tackle at his size, he can get beat up. But I think he’s still a very good pass rusher. I think he plays with good effort. We just need to get him some help so that he can do the things that he does best more often.”"

All of which sounds like good news for the Raiders, the fans, and especially for All-World Everything, Khalil Mack.

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For the last couple of years, Irvin has been the Robin to Mack’s Batman, the jelly to his peanut butter, and the cheese to his macaroni.

Irvin has been the second best player on this Oakland defense, racking up 15 sacks over the last two seasons and has forced more fumbles than you can shake the proverbial stick at.

He’s been solid against the run, pretty good against the pass, and has been an all-around leader for this defense.

In short, Irvin has been everything the Raiders hoped he’d be when they signed him, and then some.

Which is why a Tweet he shot out earlier today – one in which, he casually slipped back into “Baby Reggie” mode, seems to bode well for his return this season.

Though, the target of his recruitment is a bit problematic for a myriad of reasons, the fact that he’s actively recruiting players to come to The Town, would seem to indicate that he’s not going anywhere.

If Gruden and McKenzie can get some help for Irvin and Mack, a dominant interior lineman (perhaps, Vita Vea), or a playmaking linebacker (perhaps Roquan Smith), or another electric edge rusher (perhaps Marcus Davenport), with that first round pick, they can potentially help unlock the beast.

If Mack doesn’t have to worry as much about double and triple teams, and the defensive coordinator puts Irvin in positions to have some success and maximize his strengths, this Raiders defensive front can become a nightmare for opposing teams.

For now though, it’s good to know – at least, as far as we know – that Robin will indeed be paired back up with Batman next season.