Tag: Tanner Muse news

Report: Raiders waive LB Tanner Muse

Report: Raiders waive LB Tanner Muse

In a surprise move, the Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly waived their third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, linebacker Tanner Muse.

The report comes courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who notes that Muse received snaps as a starter in the leadup to this year’s campaign after missing his rookie season with an injury.

The Raiders recently signed two veteran linebackers, however, in K.J. Wright and Denzel Perryman. Still, Muse appeared primed to assist Las Vegas on special teams as he took a back seat to the Raiders’ front-line players.

Muse is the second of the Raiders’ three third-round picks from 2020 already gone from the club. Wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. was also in that group. Bowden was traded to the Dolphins before suiting up for the Raiders in the regular season.

After Muse’s injury last season, his run as a Raider was cut short, too, also never having suited up for Las Vegas in the regular season. Also, it must be noted that Las Vegas waived Muse on his 26th birthday, perhaps adding a bit of sting to the situation for the former Clemson star.

Raiders LB Tanner Muse says his position change to linebacker is a natural fit

Raiders LB Tanner Muse says his position change to linebacker is a natural fit

When the Raiders drafted linebacker Tanner Muse in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he was seen as a bit of a project. He played safety at Clemson, and Las Vegas planned to move him to the front seven of the defense.

His “project” status appeared cemented after Muse had a rough training camp a year ago and was placed on the injured reserve list with a toe injury. But under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, a healthy Muse is penciled in as the starting strong-side linebacker in the Raiders’ 4-3 front.

Furthermore, Muse said the switch to linebacker has been easy. Okay, he didn’t quite say that, but he came close. He exuded confidence in talking about his new role with reporters on Tuesday.

“It felt great,” Muse said, recalling his snaps during the Raiders’ first preseason game against the Seahawks. “I spun down a lot at safety at Clemson, so it felt natural. I was in the spots that I’ve been in throughout my career, so it was no big deal. Just a little adjustment. I use my hands a little more, but outside of that, it was great.”

Well then. Muse’s development on the Raiders is apparently accelerating rapidly.

It helps that he’s healthy, to be sure. Muse said that he no longer has to think about his health when he’s on the field and can simply react and use his instincts. “I can just explode out of cuts and drops. It’s a new me,” he said.

Bradley’s simpler scheme, as opposed to last year’s defense led by Paul Guenther, can only help the situation. Also, it must be noted that Bradley uses his “nickel” defense — with only two linebackers — more often than he opts for his 4-3 front. So Muse will play plenty of special teams, too, and he knows he’ll have to excel there.

“I’ve got to be the guy [on special teams] and make a lot of plays,” Muse said of his role on the Raiders. Muse also mentioned that he’s been tasked with knowing how to play each linebacker spot.

But if Muse can start at outside linebacker, or simply add quality depth to that position in just his second year, it would be a huge turnaround from his rough start in the NFL. Even providing a steady hand on special teams would be a bit of a surprise.

If he can consistently play with the confidence he displayed on Tuesday, however, the Raiders should have a quality piece to add to the roster when it appeared all they had was a project.

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Raiders’ Tanner Muse ‘getting a good look’ at OLB due to his speed, athleticism

Raiders’ Tanner Muse ‘getting a good look’ at OLB due to his speed, athleticism

When the Raiders had three picks in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, general manager Mike Mayock said that if he did his job correctly, each selection could yield a starting player.

Mayock likely wished he hadn’t said that after the Raiders abruptly traded one of those picks, wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr., before Bowden played a snap for Las Vegas.

Another 2020 third-rounder, WR Bryan Edwards, is indeed slated to start in 2021, as he was last season. But Edwards has much to prove after catching just 11 passes in 12 games as a rookie.

The third of Mayock’s potential starters from last year’s draft is linebacker Tanner Muse. A safety while at Clemson, the Raiders converted him to LB and placed him on injured reserve with a toe injury last season. But now, with new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley taking the helm, Muse is getting a shot at starting in the Raiders’ 4-3 “base” defense, according to multiple reports and confirmed by coach Jon Gruden.

“[Muse] hasn’t won that spot yet,” Gruden said during media availability on Tuesday. “He’s getting a good look. His speed and athleticism are what we think is conducive to that position, the [OLB] position. So, he’s doing some good things. We aren’t in enough base to really see him yet, but that will continue to emerge as the next couple weeks unfold.”

While this isn’t a glowing review of Muse’s camp thus far, any positive sign from him is noteworthy at this point. He struggled mightily at training camp last season.

And as Gruden said, the Raiders haven’t played much 4-3 yet. Plus, Bradley is expected to use his nickel defense as his base alignment during the regular season, deploying just two linebackers, likely to be a mixture of Nicholas Morrow, Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton.

But Muse owns a 4.41-second time in the 40-yard dash. That’s surely part of what made Mayock pull the trigger in the third round, and it’s caught Gruden’s eye in Henderson thus far. With Bradley’s simpler scheme, as opposed to last year’s Raiders, Muse can potentially step in sooner than expected.

If Muse wins the first-team spot at a position that rarely sees the field, does that count as one of the starters Mayock daydreamed about before the 2020 draft? Hard to say. But it’s easy to realize that the Raiders’ draft picks have to start producing, and Muse has emerged out of nowhere to become a player to watch.

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[lawrence-newsletter]

Raiders agree to deal with 3rd-round pick, LB Tanner Muse

The Raiders signed a number of rookies after they tested negative for COVID-19, including LB Tanner Muse

The Raiders signed multiple draft picks on Saturday, including third-round pick, linebacker Tanner Muse, according to multiple reports.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the deal is for four years and just over $4.3 million, which includes a signing bonus of $832,292.

Muse played safety at Clemson, but he’ll learn to play linebacker for Las Vegas. Measuring 6-foot-2 and 229 pounds, Muse ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, which helped his draft stock tremendously.

According to general manager Mike Mayock, Muse will start as a special teams player and learn to play either inside or weakside linebacker.

Muse is just the type of player that Mayock and coach Jon Gruden has said they want to build the team with. He’s known for his intensity, hustle and leadership with a championship-caliber program, Clemson.

Raiders brass has shown an affinity for Clemson’s winning ways, selecting former Tiger, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, with Mayock’s first pick as Raiders’ GM in 2019, as well as choosing wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and defensive back Trayvon Mullen in the same draft.

In 2020, Muse was joined by former Clemson guard, John Simpson, in joining the Raiders collection of former Clemson stars.