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Las Vegas Raiders free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

By Russell S. Baxter

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 29: Chris Harris Jr. #25 of the Denver Broncos walks on the field before a game against the Oakland Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High on December 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 29: Chris Harris Jr. #25 of the Denver Broncos walks on the field before a game against the Oakland Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High on December 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings is unable to catch a pass as he is defended by A.J. Klein #53 of the New Orleans Saints during the first half in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings is unable to catch a pass as he is defended by A.J. Klein #53 of the New Orleans Saints during the first half in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. LB A.J. Klein (New Orleans Saints)

Will you stay or will he go? That’s a major question surrounding the availability of controversial linebacker Vontaze Burfict. It didn’t take long for him to make quite the impression this past season in his first year with the Silver and Black.

Of course, it wasn’t the kind of impact he or head coach Jon Gruden was hoping for. In a Week 4 tilt with the Colts at Indianapolis, there was a helmet-to-helmet hit on tight end Jack Doyle. Given his past indiscretions on the football field, he was given the rest of the season – hence a 12-game suspension.

Burfict is slated for free agency next month. So are a couple of other veteran linebackers in Will Compton and Kyle Wilber. The former played in nine games and made four starts while Wilber made more tackles on special teams than on defense in his 14 outings in 2019.

Underrated Tahir Whitehead and three-year Nicholas Morrow finished first and third, respectively, in tackles for the team this past season. So could Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock look for a reliable and productive veteran to man the middle? A.J. Klein has spent his entire NFL career in the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints and made a bigger impact the past three seasons with Sean Payton’s club. He would be a solid addition to an area that could still use a play-maker or two.

Next: No. 1

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