After dealing with the troubled linebacker for multiple seasons, the Oakland Raiders decided to waive former first round pick Rolando McClain last week, clearing the way for the former Alabama star to move to another NFL team and he could have a number of options. (UPDATE: he is now a Raven)
According to NFL.com, McClain has already received offers from three different teams and once he clears waivers he will have the chance to sign. The report says that two other teams are also interested in the linebacker after his time with the Raiders. The reason that teams have been so quick to look at McClain is due to the fact that the Raiders allowed his agent to seek a trade, which laid the foundation for the other team interest.
McClain was released after two years of issues with the Raiders, including multiple arrests and suspensions from the team. The Raiders got rid of him despite dealing with $11 million in dead money and the team was just glad to no longer have the former first round pick on the roster after he was arrested twice in his hometown over the previous years, once for holding a gun at someone and later for giving a false name to a police officer.
The former eighth overall pick is still very young at 23-years-old and a number of teams could be fits for him, including the Ravens, Giants, Titans, Saints and Bears. After having a career year in 2011 with nearly 100 tackles and 5.0 sacks, he regressed last season and made 60 tackles in 11 games and was suspended for the end of the year. He played in over 40 games for the Raiders during his career, but he played in only half the snaps last season and made 6.5 sacks during his time with the franchise.
The Raiders have added Kevin Burnett and Nick Roach at linebacker to make him expendable and the team also could look at Brian Urlacher and Karlos Dansby on the free agent market or even Jarvis Jones in the upcoming NFL draft, where they have the third overall pick. McClain could be a fit with the Ravens after the team lost a number of players, including Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe in free agency as well as Ray Lewis and Bernard Pollard and longtime star Ed Reed.
Oakland allowed over 115 yards on the ground per game and McClain could help teams in the running game and since he is so young, there is a chance his best years are ahead of him. The Raiders have been moving in a new direction all offseason after releasing veterans like Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Huff and the team also traded for Matt Flynn and dealt Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals.
McClain showed potential early in his career and had it not been for the off the field issues, chances are he could still be with the Raiders. He now will move on to another team in Baltimore, leaving Brian Urlacher and Karlos Dansby as possible options for the Bengals.
