HEADLINES

Raiders To Sign Richie Incognito

May 28th, 2019 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have agreed to sign offensive lineman Richie Incognito, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, minimum salary deal for the controversial veteran as he makes his return to the NFL, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter) adds. 

There has been longstanding mutual interest between the Raiders and Incognito, but the team debated the signing internally because of the suspension that is likely coming down the pike. Ultimately, they didn’t see much risk in adding Incognito on a cheap deal that they can easily shed if things don’t work out.

The former Rams, Bills and Dolphins guard has a checkered past, but he’s also a proven commodity on the field. In 2017, Incognito graded out as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked seventh amongst all guards in 2016 and second in ’15, making him the Bills’ top-rated offensive lineman in that three year period. He also earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod in 2017, giving him four in total.

Last year, Incognito agreed to a pay cut with the Bills only to “retire” for a short time and force his release from Buffalo. Days after his release, Florida cops placed Incognito in a mental hospital after he hurled weights at a gym and told officers that the government is spying on him. Incognito claimed that he drew interest even after that event, but as far as we know, the Raiders were the only team to show any interest in him this year.

On the plus side, Incognito is reportedly feeling well, both mentally and physically. If that’s the case, Incognito could factor into the Raiders’ starting left guard competition following the trade of Kelechi Osemele to the Jets. The Raiders say that Gabe Jackson will remain on the right side, which currently leaves Denzelle Good as the leader in the clubhouse at LG.

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