EmbattledOakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie finally pulled the trigger on a signing we can get behind.
The Raiders agreed to terms with former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley on a two-year contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
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NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, citing a team source, said the deal is worth $12 million. The team officially announced the signing later.
Woodley carried a 2014 salary-cap figure of $13.59 million prior to his release, so the Raiders are getting him at a fair price.
Viewed as one of the most talented young edge rushers in the league prior to signing a six-year, $61 million deal in 2011, Woodley has been alternately out of shape and unproductive over the past three seasons.
If coach Dennis Allen can light a fire under Woodley, there's still Pro Bowl potential here. He's just 29 years old and was the third-ranked available player on Around The League's Free Agency Tracker following Jason Hatcher's signing with the Redskins.
The question is how the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker fits in the scheme of Allen and Jason Tarver, which has been 4-3 in the past.
Lamarr Houston provided a clue that the alignment could be changing, when he said a couple of weeks ago that Allen doesn't view him as a fit for his defense.
Provided the coaching staff is playing to Woodley's strengths, this is a solid addition. If there's no plan to switch to a 3-4 defense, though, it's just the latest in a long line of head-scratchers emanating from Oakland.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" recaps the wild start of free agency. *
