Linebacker Rolando McClain is now a free agent, but it turns out that he was almost yanked off the market and shipped out of Oakland via trade before the team ultimately decided to cut him. According to Geoff Hobson of the Cincinnati Bengals website, the Bengals were “mulling” the idea of trading for McClain but decided against it in the hours before the linebacker eventually hit the open market. Hobson made sure to note that whatever minor interest the club had in McClain has subsided and moving forward Cincinnati won’t be pursuing McClain.
Hearing #Bengals mulled trade for Raiders LB Rolando McClain before he got cut, but there doesn't appear to be interest as of now.
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) April 9, 2013
According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, McClain reportedly has three contract offers on the table and is drawing interest from a fourth and fifth unnamed team. The Cleveland Plain Dealer‘s Mary Kay Cabot ruled out the Browns as a possible target, even though some are linking McClain to Cleveland due to Mike Lombardi’s high interest in McClain dating back in 2010.
McClain had notable struggles both on and off the field while with the Raiders, but his talent and upside are something that has apparently and predictably drawn some teams to him. There is no indication that McClain will sign anywhere in the coming days, but as it stands now, if Rapoport’s report is true than McClain won’t be out of work as long as some may have initially thought.