The Oakland Raiders have found a new way to avoid holdouts by rookie draft picks.
The solution? Cut them.
A league source tells us that the Raiders have waived defensive end Stryker Sulak, a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft.
The formal designation was “waived/unsigned.”
So, basically, the Raiders have cut Sulak before his rookie training camp. Said the source, “I’ve never seen that happen before.”
But the tactic is permitted. Teams are required only to tender one-year contracts for the rookie minimum to their draft picks. Even if the draft pick were to sign the one-year tender, the team would still have the ability to terminate the non-guaranteed deal.
Sulak was the 26th player picked in round six, and the 199th overall in the draft. The Raiders selected Sulak with a draft pick obtained from the Patriots.
The reason for the Raiders’ decision to cut Sulak isn’t known. Yet.