Oakland Raiders: Why Bruce Irvin should return at his current cap number

The Oakland Raiders have tough decisions to make concerning veteran players on the roster. Why is keeping linebacker Bruce Irvin an easy call?

During the past couple of offseasons, linebacker Bruce Irvin took the initiative to recruit potential free agents via Twitter.

This year, however, he’s waiting for the word on his status with the Oakland Raiders.

Irvin didn’t sound fully confident about his return to the Silver and Black for the foreseeable future in a tweet:

The 30-year old pass-rusher’s cap number hits $8.25 million without dead money owed for the remaining two years on his contract, per Spotrac. The front office could simply cut ties and not owe him a dollar.

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Draft season put fans in forward-thinking mode. Many have fallen in like with small-school prospect Marcus Davenport out of the University of Texas at San Antonio as a solid fit for the defense.

Whether the Raiders consider Davenport or not, Irvin’s production should shield him from the free-agent Grim Reaper.

Since joining the Raiders, he’s been the second-best pass-rusher behind Khalil Mack. The former Seattle Seahawk has racked up 15 sacks over the past two seasons. He’s also been a quality run-stopper and adequate short-area coverage defender.

Through the first half of the 2017 campaign, Irvin didn’t move the needle. However, his second-half outburst showed the 30-year old’s ability to collapse the pocket and play off of Mack on the opposite side.

As a team, the Silver and Black struggled in the sacks department, only registering 31 during the 2017 season. Mack and Irvin accounted for 18.5 of that count. The defense absolutely needs a complement to the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. Oakland may select a pass-rusher early in the draft but until that prospect flashes on the field, it’s wise to keep No. 51 in the defensive huddle.

At times, salary numbers may outweigh production. Irvin may balk at the idea of a pay cut and deservedly so. He isn’t just a one-dimensional pass-rusher. When the defense needs someone to knock Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on his butt on a reroute attempt or track down a ball-carrier, the sixth-year pro does the job.

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Keep in mind Irvin came to Oakland with a strong voice in the locker room as a former Super Bowl champion. Secondly, it’s a tall order for a rookie to duplicate his skill set as a second-level defender or bookend.

Barring an issue with scheme fit under defensive coordinator Paul Guenther or a cheaper alternative on the free-agent market, expect Irvin to remain on the roster going into the third year of his four-year, $37 million contract.