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Raiders Moving Toward Signing Josh Freeman
Published Oct. 5, 2013
By Charlie Campbell - @draftcampbell

Sources confirm that the Oakland Raiders are strongly considering signing free agent quarterback Josh Freeman.

Sources with the team believe that general manager Reggie McKenzie will sign Freeman assuming everything checks out OK after the team does their due diligence into Freeman's exit from Tampa Bay. The Raiders have been an obvious landing spot for Freeman as current Raiders' offensive coordinator Greg Olson was Freeman's offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay for the troubled quarterback's first three years in the NFL.

Freeman's best seasons in the NFL came under Olson's direction. In 2010, he completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,451 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 364 yards that season, as Freeman led Tampa Bay to a 10-6 record, its only winning season since firing Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen after the 2008 season. In 2011, Freeman completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,592 yards with 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

After Olson left, Freeman had streaky play in 2012 with a completion percentage at 55 percent throwing for 4,065 yards with 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Freeman is only 25 years old, and there is no doubt that the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder has the physical talent to be an effective starter. Olson will have to get Freeman to erase the past two seasons. Sources with Tampa Bay have told WalterFootball.com that Bucs' head coach Greg Schiano killed Freeman's confidence and didn't handle the quarterback well.

Olson and the Raiders aren't in need of a starting quarterback as Terrelle Pryor has had an impressive start to the 2013 season. However, behind Pryor, Oakland has rookie Matt McGloin and veteran Matt Flynn serving as backups. If Freeman is brought in as the team expects, he could compete as a backup while he gets reacquainted with Olson's offense.

If Freeman is signed to a 2-year contract or is brought back in 2014 to the Raiders, he could serve as starting competition for Pryor if the first-year starter doesn't lock down the starting spot this season. Having Freeman and Pryor would give Oakland two young starting options that they could potentially rebuild their team around. Having those quarterback options would also give McKenzie more flexibility in the 2014 NFL Draft.

When the Buccaneers drafted Freeman with the 17th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Olson was the quarterbacks coach in Tampa Bay. The Bucs then fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and promoted Olson to offensive coordinator just prior to Freeman's rookie campaign. After the 2011 season, the Bucs changed coaching staffs with Schiano being named the head coach and Mike Sullivan coming in as the offensive coordinator.

During Freeman's rookie contract, he has had three different offensive coordinators along with a lot of changes at his position coach. The Buccaneers have had Alex Van Pelt (2010-2011), Ron Turner and John McNulty serve as the quarterbacks coach the past three years.

Since the start of the season, the Buccaneers have had an endless soap opera around Freeman and Schiano. Freeman wasn't voted a captain, missed the team photo from oversleeping, was fined by the team for missing meetings, gave an unauthorized interview to ESPN, wasn't allowed to watch the last game from his personal suite and was forced to go to an inactive player suite. Reports also came out that Freeman had voluntarily entered the league's substance abuse program after taking the wrong medication for an ADHD condition.

The Raiders are investigating the fallout with Tampa Bay, and if Oakland is comfortable with what they find, sources with the team believe they will go ahead and sign Freeman in the coming days.