Raiders: 5 linebackers to target in 2020 free agency

4. Kyle Van Noy

Another New England Patriots linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, like Jamie Collins, is a versatile linebacker who could come in and fill a variety of roles.

I’ve heard a lot of talk about how Van Noy would not be a scheme fit in the Raiders 4-3 defense, but as a player who played both off-ball on the inside and outside, and as an outside rusher I think defensive coordinator Paul Guenther would find a suitable role for the six-year veteran.

Van Noy had his best season as a blitzer/pass rusher, recording 6.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Those stats may suggest he is a 3-4 edge rusher, but that is not the case as Van Noy mostly played as an off-ball linebacker and excelled on inside blitzes.

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther loves running disguised A-gap blitzes, which is exactly what Bill Belichick ran a lot of which allowed Van Noy to excel this season, as explained by Pro Football Focus.

Van Noy is on record saying he will not take a hometown discount and so the Patriots are unlikely to re-sign him as he will be looking for $10 million+ per year, which the Raiders, of course, could dish out.