Oakland Raiders: 5 Pass-rushers still available on open market

The Oakland Raiders have not signed a defensive end during free agency, but team brass can still add veteran talent at the weakest position on the roster.

There’s no doubt the Oakland Raiders improved their roster during free agency with some splashy additions, specifically wideout Antonio Brown and offensive tackle Trent Brown. General manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden skipped on the roster’s biggest need: pass rushers.

For the record, the Raiders have tried to add talent at defensive end. According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Scott Bair, team brass had interest in Markus Golden before he inked a deal with the New York Giants. Josh Mauro signed with the club, but he’s 6-6, 290 pounds and best-suited to line up on the inside.

At this stage in free agency, it’s slim pickings across the board, but Mayock and Gruden still have a few choices available on the open market. None of the five options below will mitigate the need at defensive end, but each player listed is younger than 30 years old or able to serve as a good example for the incoming rookies who fill the position.

Cassius Marsh

According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, Cassius Marsh visited the team a couple of weeks ago. The Raiders probably remember him because he sacked quarterback Derek Carr 2.5 times in Week 9 last season. The UCLA product entered the league as a fourth-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2014 draft but didn’t log sack until his third season.

Once upon a time, Marsh criticized the New England Patriots’ rigid culture, but he’s provided low-scale production over the last three seasons with at least three sacks in each term. Still only 26 years old, the fifth-year veteran can bring something to the table for the Raiders pass rush.

Obviously, Marsh left the Raiders’ facility without a contract but so did safety Curtis Riley before he circled back to sign a deal.