One of the top-rated free agents left in the Class of 2015 has caught the eye of the Raiders.
According to Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post and NBC Sports Radio, the Raiders are “in discussions” with Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy.
PFT’s Mike Florio confirms the Raiders have interest in Hardy, who is on the Commissioner’s Exempt list stemming from domestic violence charges that were dismissed in February after he was found guilty in an earlier bench trial. The NFL has ruled that Hardy can sign with a club, though more discipline is possible.
The 26-year-old Hardy emerged as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers in 2012 and 2013, notching a combined 26 sacks in that span. However, he played in just one game a season ago before being placed on paid leave.
Several teams, including the Panthers, are known to not be interested in Hardy. But the Raiders appear to at least be looking into him.