Pat

Sims

After sitting out the first day of free agency, the Raiders are starting to make some calls. With Oakland’s front seven being decimated by releases and departures, Sims wouldn’t hurt for a role by the bay. Sims’ injury history would necessitate a back-up plan if he’s signed as a starter.

Demoted in Oakland last season after starting all 16 games in 2013, Sims spent 2008-12 in Cincinnati. Going on 30, he’s a former third-rounder. He’ll provide run-plugging depth for a defensive line that underachieved last season.

Although Sims is one dimensional, he is an efficient run stopper and can fill a needed role on an Oakland defense that annually struggles to stop ground attacks. Sims turned 27 last November. He packs 335 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame.

Sims, 28, played well for Oakland last season, making 16 starts and recording 54 tackles. But neither he nor the team appears interested in a reunion. Sims has only visited the Titans, so far. The Raiders have inked DT Antonio Smith and are said to be high on second-year DT Stacy McGee. Sims is a run plugger.

Sims played surprisingly well for the Raiders last season, notching a career-best 54 tackles in 16 starts. At 6'2/335, he’d be able to play the tackle or end position in Ray Horton’s 3-4 scheme.

It’s a quality signing by Oakland after Sims proved a valuable run defender in 2013. Still only 28 years old, Sims will leave the field on passing downs again, but is a true lane clogger in the middle. The Raiders’ D-Line is shaping up as RE LaMarr Woodley, LE Justin Tuck, DT Antonio Smith, and NT Sims.

The 2008 third-rounders have attracted surprisingly little interest considering their age and specialization. Sims is an effective situational run-stuffer while Collins is a fine swing tackle.

A run stuffer, Sims was limited to 297 snaps last season before landing on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his left ankle. He’s appeared in at least 11 games for the Bengals each of the past four years, however, and will provide depth at tackle behind Geno Atkins and Domata Peko. The Bengals previously lost DLs Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker in free agency.

As is free agent OT Anthony Collins. A situational run stopper, Sims played 297 snaps across 11 games before torn ankle ligaments landed him on injured reserve in December. Still just 26, he’ll attract interest as a run-stuffing specialist.

This has the look of a serious injury. Sims got rolled up on during a running play and needed to be carted off.