Oakland Raiders: 5 Pass-rushers still available on open market
Aaron Lynch
Aaron Lynch visited the Raiders on the same day as Marsh (March 18) and most recently met with the Indianapolis Colts, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. At 26 years old, the 150th overall pick from the 2014 draft has generated some interest—include the Seahawks in that mix.
Although Lynch lined up in a standing edge-rusher position for the majority of his five-year career, he’s 6-6, 270 pounds, a good size to handle defensive-end responsibilities in an even-man front. His stature probably explains why the Raiders brought him into the building.
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After Lynch logged 12.5 sacks in his first two years in the league, injuries limited him to 14 appearances between the 2016-17 terms. Last year, he played in 13 contests with the Chicago Bears and finished with three sacks in a light role (33.56 percent of the defensive snaps).
Perhaps desperate times call for desperate measures and the two sides come to an agreement following the draft.
Andre Branch
Andre Branch didn’t play up to his second-round billing with the Jacksonville Jaguars but logged 10 sacks between the 2016-17 campaigns on the end of the Miami Dolphins defensive line. In 2018, he accepted a reduced role (44.35 percent of the snaps) behind Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn.
Like the four other defensive ends listed, Branch won’t solve the Raiders’ pass-rush issues, but he can produce with a decent workload. If defensive end Paul Guenther uses Branch in a designated pass-rushing role, the 29-year old could score four-to-five sacks.
Branch also has experience at strong-side linebacker, dating back to his days in Jacksonville. The seventh-year veteran’s versatility could expand his role in base alignment.