The Raiders appear ready to let go of their most recent first-round pick.
According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, “all indications are” the Raiders will release middle linebacker Rolando McClain on Tuesday, the start of the 2013 league year. Per the Chronicle report, releasing McClain on Tuesday will result in a salary-cap hit of more than $7 million, but the penalty can be taken over two seasons.
Just 23, McClain has started 38 games in three seasons for Oakland. However, he served a two-game team suspension for detrimental conduct, and he has had multiple off-field incidents.
The first linebacker and fifth defensive player taken in the 2010 draft, McClain could get some looks simply on the promise he showed in the not-so-distant past at the University of Alabama. He’s also two seasons removed from a 99-tackle, five-sack season for the Raiders. Nevertheless, if indeed he’s released, it will be an inglorious development for a player drafted after Joe Haden and before C.J. Spiller a little less than three years ago.