Five days ago, a long-time starting linebacker hit the open market. And the Raiders, with their seemingly constant need at the position, have scooped him up. Preston Brown was cut by the Bengals despite starting all but one game in which he appeared the past two seasons.
Though he played for the Bengals, Brown never played for Paul Guenther as he joined the team after Guenther left to join Jon Gruden’s staff in Oakland.
The Bengals had re-signed Brown this offseason. He was Mayock’s third-ranked linebacker in the 2014 draft out of Louisville and was selected in the third round by the Buffalo Bills,
Brown had massive production over his first four seasons in Buffalo, putting up 126 tackles per season, including 135 and 144 tackles in his last two seasons there in 2016-17. He signed a one-year deal in Cincinnati in 2018, hoping to earn a long term deal, but having his season upended by a knee injury after just 7 games.
To make room for Brown, the Raiders placed wide receiver/kick returner Dwayne Harris on injured reserve. Harris was injured in the second game of the season and has struggled to get healthy ever since. The team finally gave up on him being consistently healthy this season and ended his season.
[vertical-gallery id=57972]
[lawrence-newsletter]