Oakland Raiders Tagged As Top Landing Spot For Controversial Pass Rusher

Some view it as just a matter of time before Greg Hardy gets back into the NFL. It’s a question of which team finally breaks down and makes that phone call. Could the Oakland Raiders be it?

This is pro football after all. Top pass rushers are so rare and difficult to come by. Despite being such a universally hated player for the allegations of beating his ex-girlfriend, Hardy is a former Pro Bowl defensive end who is still in his prime and feels he deserves another chance to prove he’s not that guys everybody paints him as in the media.

Pro Football Rumors dove into the idea of whether Hardy could make it back into the league for the 2016 season, and came away with the prediction it would happen.

"“Hardy, 27, has recently been lobbying for an NFL opportunity, and his agent Drew Rosenhaus is telling teams that his client has taken the necessary steps to change his behavior. But despite his double-digit sack potential, the “prevailing opinion” around the league is that nobody wants Hardy, as Ed Werder of ESPN.com reported earlier this month — one general manager called Hardy a “very hard sell,” while another called him “toxic.”But eventually, the price will fall enough that Hardy — who, even in a down season, graded as a top-30 edge rusher per Pro Football Focus — will find a job.”"

The question of course is which teams would be willing to take that risk. If Dallas, a team notorious for taking big risks on players over the years couldn’t handle him, who else would possibly try it? A lot would depend on this effort seek help for his mental health problems, but it would also have to be a team that still has significant need for pass rush help and a situation where Hardy might be able to put them over the top.

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One of the teams topping the list of possibilities is none other than the organization notorious for giving second (and third) chances in the Oakland Raiders.

"“After ranking in the middle of the pack in most defensive statistics in 2016, the Raiders spent most of the offseason upgrading its unit, inking Bruce Irvin, Aldon Smith, Sean Smith, and Reggie Nelson while using a first-round pick on safety Karl Joseph. Hardy could be the final piece on Oakland’s front seven, helping out at end on early downs before sliding inside on passing downs. A team on the rise like the Raiders might risk the public relations backlash that will come with signing Hardy in order to add a talent that could push them over the top.”"

With guys like Ted Hendricks, John Matuszak, and Lyle Alzado having established reputations for being unwanted distractions when they arrived in Oakland during their careers but still proving to be valuable pieces to Super Bowl success, this of course makes plenty of sense. Besides, the Raiders can’t ignore the fact they still haven’t provided a legitimate answer to the loss of Aldon Smith at the end spot opposite Khalil Mack. He’s not due back from suspension until November. Bruce Irvin is a linebacker and Mario Edwards Jr. is coming off a season-ending injury.

Greg Hardy would provide some needed proven ability at that position and ease the pressure on the teams’ rookies like Jihad Ward and Shilique Calhoun to have to perform right away. At the same time, the Raiders are so close to playoff contention. Can they afford to risk of such a distraction from the anticipated PR backlash? It’s a difficult question.

Time will tell whether they’re ready to take the risk.

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