It did not take very long for former Bears linebacker to be plucked off the free agent market as Nick Kwiatkoski is now a part of Raider nation. Raiders add another grinder to their mix. The writing was written on the walls at Halas Hall when the Bears decided to keep Danny Trevathan over Nick Kwiatkoski. Only days ago Bears retained Trevathan’s services on a three year deal for 24 million dollars. Bears have plenty of needs and they may have thought Kwiatkoski was going to cost them more money since they passed up the younger talent of 26 years old to keep a veteran that turns 30 later this month. It was one or the other since they both play the same position of middle linebacker.  Kwiatkoski gets a three year deal to come to Las Vegas where the city of lights will have their first NFL team ever. Raiders moved from one of their long time homes of Oakland.

The Raiders defense played well in the first half of the season. They had a lot of draft picks as they sold off pieces in 2018, one of them to the Bears in Khalil Mack former teammate of Kwiatkoski. Head coach Jon Gruden used some of those picks on the Raiders defense. Raiders defense regressed in the second half of the season in 2019. One bright spot was the play of defensive end Mad Maxx Crosby, a guy they drafted in the 4th round from East Michigan. Crosby’s rookie season was amazing as he piled up ten sacks in his first season as a professional. Crosby’s play earned himself defensive rookie of the year. The Raiders were still alive at the very end of the  regular season on the bubble of making the playoffs.  Last season the Raiders had some bright spots to give this team hope in the future that they can turn it around and make the playoffs this year with what they have and adding to the mix.

Raiders land a great piece with Nick Kwiatkoski, another 4th round draft pick out of West Virginia. Kwiatkoski who filled in for the injured Danny Trevathan and played middle linebacker the way the monsters of the midway played that position for the Bears for decades. He was rock solid. Kwiatkoski had 76 tackles, 3 sacks, interception, and forced fumble. Last game of the season Kwiatkoski added a safety versus the Vikings. Kwiatkoski has a nose for the football. Born in Pittsburgh where they manufacture linebackers and guys that get dirty and play the game the right way. I have to give Chucky credit he has added another Gruden grinder to the defensive side of the ball. I like the way both Crosby and Kwiatkoski played last season. Both young pieces and these two could be the core of the silver and black for years to come. Raiders still rumored  to add a more pieces to their roster on both sides of the ball.  The team is off to great start in the first day in free agency.

Meanwhile the Bears probably picked the wrong guy. Danny Trevathon is a nice player  to have who can put a lick on the opposing offensive players going over the middle. I know the Bears could only keep one linebacker out of the two choices. When you have holes to fill on your roster you have to tighten the wallet on some of your choices. Bears window is closing. That dominant defense of 2018 took a few steps back in 2019. The only way this thing works for the bears if Trevathan can sustain his play for the whole year. If  the Bears use any available money they saved on not signing Kwiatkosi and land another quarterback and a tight end.  I wouldn’t mind an offensive lineman as well. Bears do not have many draft picks so decisions like not signing Kwiatkoski they have to be perfect with the rest of their free agent signings to patch up those holes. They better hope those holes don’t leak because letting Kwiatkoski, a guy you drafted and developed go elsewhere ,and he continues to play well while the bears sink into the abyss of what could have been, heads will roll. My gut feeling is injury prone Danny Trevathan will get another injury. Bears free agents again will not pan out especially at the quarterback position.  Bears will end up going in another direction in 2021. The Raiders moves will get the silver and black back to respectable and perhaps beyond.