When the Raiders signed former Cincinnati Bengal Vontaze Burfict to a one-year deal in 2019 the move was met with raised eyebrows and confusion by fans and pundits alike. On the surface the Raiders were signing a player that was suspended repeatedly by the NFL for his illegal hits and his violations of the league’s policy on PEDs.
The justification was that Burfict was well-studied in Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther’s system and could tutor the young players on the defense. If he could avoid crossing the line then it would have been a mutually beneficial move for all parties but unfortunately Burfict could only hold his water for so long.