Raiders: 3 recently released players the team should target
By Justin Fried
2. Christian Kirksey, LB
It’s no secret that the Raiders are in desperate need of linebacker help. And while the recently released Christian Kirksey might not be the team’s top option, he could still be a worthwhile addition.
Kirksey has spent the last six seasons playing for the Cleveland Browns after entering the league as a third-round pick back in 2014. Over the first four years of his career, Kirksey steadily developed into one of the more underrated linebackers in football.
He endeared himself to Browns’ fans for his vocal leadership and stellar work ethic and it also helped that he didn’t miss a single game over those four years.
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However, the same can’t be said for the last two seasons.
Kirksey played just nine games throughout 2018 and 2019 battling multiple injuries. As a result, the Browns opted to release the fan-favorite linebacker just a few days ago.
But even though he shouldn’t be their primary option, Kirksey could still make a difference.
His aggressive nature makes him an excellent fit for Paul Guenther’s defense as long as the team could pair him with a younger coverage linebacker — preferably in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With plenty of starting experience, Kirksey would be a solid addition to the Raiders’ defense and he won’t cost nearly as much as other top names on the market.
The Raiders could do much worse than signing Kirksey to a cheap, short-term deal.