Coming into free agency, the Raiders made a clean slate at the linebacker position. They let go of Tahir Whitehead, which freed up $6.25 million in money under the cap and left the team with a need for three new starting linebackers.
Then as soon as free agency opened, they signed two linebackers, picking up the big prize in Cory Littleton along with up-and-coming talent, Nick Kwiatkoski.
Whitehead wasn’t in high demand at the position. but it took just a week for him to catch on somewhere. He has been signed by the Colts on a one-year deal.
Former #Raiders LB Tahir Whitehead is signing with the #Panthers on a 1-year deal, source said. A solid signing late In free agency.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2020
It was a couple years ago that Whitehead was a priority free-agent addition by the Raiders, one of the first for Jon Gruden in his return to coaching. But two years into his three-year deal, he wasn’t working out. He was a liability in coverage and wasn’t all that great in any area of his game.
Despite his shortcomings, he carries some value. He started all 32 games in his time with the Raiders and put up 234 combined tackles. He had value to the Raiders when they signed him so perhaps a new scheme will get the most out of him.
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