Raiders' 2023 Free Agents: Denzel Perryman

Denzel Perryman played well enough to earn another contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

As we continue breaking down the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2023 free agents and whether or not they should get another chance with the team, today we arrive at linebacker Denzel Perryman.

Linebacker play can differentiate between a good defense and a great one. General Manager Dave Ziegler and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have to decide if they think Perryman puts them over the top.

Perryman's play on the field the last two seasons certainly has him positioned to earn another contract. Let’s look closely at Perryman’s time in Las Vegas and see if the Raiders should bring him back.

After an excellent career at the University of Miami (Fla.) that saw him record 351 career tackles, 27 tackles for losses, six forced fumbles, and an interception, Perryman was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the then-San Diego Chargers.

In his time with the Chargers, he was a very good player but sustained multiple injuries and could not stay on the field, never having played more than 14 games in a season.

Perryman signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers in the 2021 off-season but was traded to the Raiders a couple of months later. Perryman had an outstanding debut season for the Silver and Black, posting a career-high in tackles with 154, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

It was not more of the same for Perryman in 2022, as his production dropped off a bit. While he didn’t post Pro Bowl numbers, he still was solid all across the board with 83 tackles and a career-high two interceptions.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 27-20 loss, Perryman posted a season-high in tackles with 10. He had maybe his best game of the season a few weeks before that against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording eight tackles and an interception.

Perryman enters free agency after his age-30 season. He spent two solid seasons with the Raiders and made a case for himself to return to the team in 2023 and possibly beyond. With many free agents for the Raiders and all across the league, it will come down to how expensive they will be.

Perryman can be back next season if he is willing to sign a one-year contract with the Raiders. If he wants a multi-year contract, he could get it with another team, but it would be wise for the Raiders to lock him down long-term after his performance on the field the last two years. 

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During that time, starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m EST on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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