Kamerion

Wimbley

The deal includes $13.5 million guaranteed. Wimbley was already guaranteed $6.5 million following his release from the Raiders. He’s an excellent consolation prize for a team that missed out on Mario Williams as it got bogged down in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, and should greatly improve a pass rush that notched just 28 sacks in 2011. That was good for 31st in the NFL. Wimbley has essentially been a 3-4 outside linebacker for most of his career, but he will play right end in Tennessee’s 4-3 defense. He’s notched at least 6.5 sacks each of the past three seasons. The Titans have a lot of pass-rush potential, with Derrick Morgan a full year removed from ACL surgery on the left end and the explosive, high-motor Wimbley rushing off the weak side.

The Raiders can save $4.5 million in cap space this year as well as a total savings of $17.5 million in salary by cutting Wimbley. Although previous reports indicated Wimbley would balk at a pay cut, PFT is told he is willing to listen to any offers the Raiders will make over the next couple of weeks. Wimbley’s player rep likely has a good read on how much his client can collect on the open market should the Raiders cut ties.

Oakland would stay on the hook for $6.5 million in guaranteed salary, but could save $4.5 million under the cap. While the Raiders would prefer to keep Wimbley because he’s their best pass rusher, GM Reggie McKenzie has determined that his contract simply isn’t worth it. The ideal scenario is a reworked deal.

There’s been speculation that the Pats, in need of a pass-rusher, would be in the mix, but we’ve seen nothing convincing. The Bears are expected to take a “long look” at Wimbley, and the Chargers and Cardinals have also been mentioned as potential landing spots.

Kevin Boss’ release actually hasn’t been formally announced yet. Per La Canfora, Boss and Wimbley’s releases will be announced together. Wimbley will hit the market as a 28-year-old pass rusher with 16 sacks over the past two seasons and versatility to fit both a 3-4 defense as a linebacker and a 4-3 scheme as a defensive end. Wimbley would be an awfully nice fallback plan for teams that miss out on top free agent pass rusher Mario Williams.

The Raiders could save $4.5 million by cutting Wimbley before March 17, but it would be an odd move to pay one of the league’s more effective pass rushers $6.5 million to play for another team. For his part, Wimbley is reportedly “not interested” in renegotiating. It’s hard to blame him with so much leverage.

In other words, Wimbley is amenable to moving money around, but not to losing any of it. This could make things difficult for the cap-strapped Raiders. They could try to convert some of Wimbley’s whopping $11 million salary into a signing bonus, but there remains a very real possibility that cutting ties will be the endgame. The franchise must make a decision by March 17.

Teamed with Julius Peppers, Wimbley would give the Bears the league’s most fearsome pass-rushing duo, but it’s unlikely Chicago has the money to be a serious suitor after re-signing DE Israel Idonije.

Although agent Joe Linta insists the two sides “continue to work hard to make it work,” Pasquarelli sets the odds at “perhaps a bit less” than 50-50 that Wimbley returns to Oakland. He would have to take a substantial pay cut to do so, an unlikelihood with the potential of breaking the bank on the open market.

Wimbley reportedly “loved his time” in Cleveland, but the tight-fisted Browns won’t be interested in meeting his price tag if he reaches the open market. The delay in Wimbley’s release suggests the Raiders are exploring ways to keep him, but he remains most likely to become a free agent.