The Las Vegas Raiders have officially begun their OTA Offseason Workouts, marking the first opportunity for both veterans and the incoming rookie class to practice together. This phase also gives head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek their most comprehensive look at the current roster.
As a result, expect more roster adjustments in the near future. In fact, the Raiders have already begun making changes.
On Wednesday, the team announced the signing of linebacker Michael Barrett while parting ways with rookie linebacker Wesley Steiner, who had recently joined the team as an undrafted free agent from Washington State.
Barrett, previously seen tackling Xazavian Valladay, was originally a seventh-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He was traded to the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the season but ended up being released and had a brief stint on their practice squad. Barrett also spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns last season but did not appear in any regular season games.
A veteran of six seasons at Michigan under coach Jim Harbaugh, Barrett made a name for himself with the Wolverines and earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors twice. Though he faces tough competition to secure a spot on the final roster, the Raiders’ current lack of depth at linebacker may work in his favor.