The Raiders are in desperate need of help at inside linebacker. Last year’s starters are currently off the roster, with Malcolm Smith now a 49er and Perry Riley still on the open market.
The Raiders hope to bring Riley back, and they’d like to pair him with a newcomer. Buffalo inside linebacker Zach Brown will visit the Raiders facility on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. NFL Network was first to report the news.
Josina Anderson of ESPN reported that Brown’s trip to Alameda will be the first of a few visits. Brown should be in demand in a slow-developing market for interior linebackers.
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Dont’a Hightower is the cream of the crop, and he still hasn’t signed with a team. His contract could help set the market for his position group.
Brown started every game last season, and had a career-high 149 tackles. He also had four sacks, two forced fumbles, four passes defensed and an interception.
Brown is known as a solid coverage linebacker, and would upgrade an area where the Raiders were deficient in 2016. He has seven career interceptions.