Former Oakland Raiders Draft Pick Passes Through Waivers
by Joel Thorman on Jul 20, 2009 10:32 AM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
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via Zimbio
Stryker Sulak, sixth round draft pick and recently cut by the Oakland Raiders, has passed through the waiver wire with no teams making a claim. This means his status is being treated as an undrafted free agent which means he can sign with anyone. It's a tough break for Sulak who, as the 199th pick, would have been looking at a signing bonus in the range of $94,000. Now, he's in a market where the highest paid UDFA received a $25,000 signing bonus. The Raiders sure do know how to treat their draft picks.
Brian McIntyre of NorthwestFootball.net says many draft analysts projected him as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. With only a handful of teams running a 3-4, let the speculation begin. McIntyre says these teams may/could/should be interested in Sulak: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Of course, it's unlikely all those teams would be interested. It's the standard group of teams to throw out there when a potential 3-4 outside 'backer becomes available.
Why would the Chiefs be interested?
- He's a four year starter, which means there's plenty of tape on him
- Plenty of production, garnering 22.5 sacks in his career and over ten his final season
Here's what McIntyre said about Sulak and the Chiefs:
The Chiefs are also transitioning to a 3-4 defense, and while they have eight outside linebackers on their roster, three are of whom are undrafted free agents who may lack Sulak’s upside. Also, Sulak was a four-year starter 125 or so miles down the road at the University of Missouri, where he posted 22.5 quarterback sacks, second on the school’s all-time list.
An interesting situation. We'll keep our eye on where Sulak might end up in the next week. Remember, the Chiefs still need to release a player to be at the 80 player maximum before camp so Sulak's addition would mean goodbye to two players.
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Is he hurt? There seems to be more to this story.
Consistency is only a value if you are not a screw up.
Image, perhaps?
You know how people on trial get to change out of their jump suits and get their cuffs removed before going into a courtroom to avoid the negative perceptions? Perhaps the Raiders jersey in the photo above has created that kind of effect – hence, the reason other teams are not interested in him.
Homer here
I think we should take a look at him – 4 year starter tells me he has a solid work ethic, and chose to stay and graduate rather than head to the NFL early. Sounds like a smart Pioli-type kid…plus, his firkin’ name is Stryker =)
Can’t you hear Dan Dierdorf saying
“Yes, you heard that correctly – the guy playing the Predator is named Stryker”
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
Who do you cut?
Look at the tapes and make a decision – cut someone and give him a shot if the tape is good. I’m not sure who though – seems to be a trend toward Missou players on the Chief’s.
I'm surprised he cleared the waiver wire...
Even if there is more to the story other than the Raiders just being the Raiders, the guy was still a projected low-round pick. He’s going to be an “extra” draft pick for someone…
Inifinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations
Meh
Dude got cut by the f’ing Raiders and cleared waivers, I’m not too worried we’re missing out on the next Lance Briggs.
New Stiga table?!?! Return of the Brookside Pongers???
yeah but he got cut by the Raiders
so he is probably a potential Pro Bowler. Think about it. If you just do the opposite of everything the Raiders do you will probably win a Super Bowl.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
by Patrick Allen on Jul 20, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
He was also drafted by the Raiders...
so he probably belongs in the CFL.
New Stiga table?!?! Return of the Brookside Pongers???
by HIV 2 Elway on Jul 20, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think so either
but it does seem odd that he isn’t picked up considering the position that he plays is rather unique in the NFL—by unique I mean that there are very few players who play that 3-4 DE/OLD really well.
Consistency is only a value if you are not a screw up.
Maybe I'm crazy....
But now that hes UDFA but wouldnt he be worth 25k to take a look? We’re not exactly deep at that position and we did just spend 28M on our QB so 25k is pennies. Of course there will probably be alot more cuts like this over the next couple weeks so Pioli probably waiting to see what he has to choose from.
"Success is never ending, failure is never final."
by GenericBrand on Jul 20, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Signing bonus
I wouldn’t mind a 25k signing bonus, or just the 25k.
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August!
I would be surprised if Pioli doesn't take a hard look at this guy...
This is right up his alley:
Position of need.
Good on special teams.
low investment with potential for HUGE return.
developmental player who might even have starting potential after seprnding a year with the older guys.
Bring him in and see if Vrabel and Thomas can help to bring him along. I think they should snatch him up.
With a name like that
He should be working in sexassassin’s industry. He could be the next John Holmes.
haha +1!
Inifinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations
by carthagechief on Jul 20, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Training Camp
is coming in 11 days, there’s going to be no shortage of guys with more experience and upside available pretty soon. There’s also gonna be injury’s and guys that don’t look so good once you get the pads on, lets be sure to plug those holes before we drop the signing fee on this guy. Really hope he lands somewhere and makes it, but not with the Chiefs at this time.
Dude, he is a brand new pick. Its like getting a free draft pick at a position of need.
He was second in the big 12 in sacks, was a starter at Mizzou for 4 seasons and has been a consistently good playmaker against the run. If the Chiefs don’t get him to camp soon, someone else will. We need a 3-4 linebacker in a bad way and the highlights I saw made him look pretty good.
The only reason the Raiders cut him is because they landed Greg Ellis in free agency. They may be willing to just throw away draft picks but, we shouldn’t be. If he can’t make the 80 man training camp roster, that’s one thing but to just dismiss him and say it isn’t worth looking into is downright dumb.
Remember, this is how we got Thigpen. Good players can be found this way and I definitely think this is worth a look.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Jul 20, 2009 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Thigpen
Was put on waivers AFTER training camp and we snagged him then. Once again…if the draft picks all sign we have 82 players and have to cut 2 before camp. Who would you recommend cutting to bring this guy in? I would be highly surprised if they haven’t looked at him and discussed this. But when you start going over the roster….it gets real hard to decide who ain’t worth giving the shot to. If he was all that fantastic, he wouldn’t have slipped into the 6th round to begin with. But who knows?
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
who to cut???
as I mentioned in another post…
I could see any of the following players being cut, without shedding a tear.
Ricky Price
Tom Crabtree
Weston Dacus
Wallace Gilberry
Darryl Harris
Edwin Harrison
Brian De La Puente
Tavares Washington
Dion Gales
Jeff Webb
Brodie Croyle
Kolby Smith
Sulak
could be a practice squad guy…
“extra draft pick” low risk, possible future contributor… possible “screw the Raiders” opportunity…
why not give him a look in camp?
Cut Dacus, we know what he can (can’t) do as a LB… he’ll likely clear waivers and be unemployed if the Chiefs ever wanted him back
See what the Mizzou kid has… it’s worth a shot
We're waiting for Chase Daniels
to cut Croyle. J/K
August 14th Baby! Can't wait! 4 Fridays away!
Rule 49. " Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 20, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd love that
but, I would have signed Chase Patton and cut Croyle and Martin
then again, I’m no “Don”
We need a 3-4 linebacker in a bad way
Agreed, but not this guy. In case you didn’t know New England is desperate for an OLB too. They passed. At this point, Sulak means one thing for sure, cutting someone that’s already got guaranteed money or, one of our own draft picks that hasn’t signed yet.
Whats up Z-man???
I know what you are saying about him slipping into the 6th rd but, there have been lots of gems who have been overlooked until the 6th round-Tom Brady anyone? Brandon Carr?
I am definitely not saying they should sign him to a long term deal or anything like that but, if he is as good as the game tape I saw, I think he could be a good help to this defense. The main thing that seems to reel me in on this is the fact that it is such a position of need and the fact that the Raiders cut him. Imagine if the flushed this guy and then he came to our team only to terrorize the Raiders twice a year for the next ten years.
As far as who do you cut?… I can’t answer that but if the turtle can beat out Jeff Webb, that might be a good place to start.
There is much more meh in round 6 and later than there are gems.
Just sayin
New Stiga table?!?! Return of the Brookside Pongers???
Yeah
but I’m not looking at Sulak as a possible gem, I’m looking at him as an extra 6th round draft pick, one whom we wouldn’t even have to pay like a 6th round draft pick.
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
If we could just bring in unlimited numbers
Then I"d be all over wanting him in here. But I would be willing to bet Pioli knew about this guy before we did, and maybe they ARE going to go after him. I have no idea. Just like everything else in life…if you choose one thing you automatically unchoose a whole lot of other things. LB WAS as great position of need, but we have a full boat right now with a bunch of new faces there. I highly doubt there will be any other moves made until camp cuts start putting even better prospects into the mix. After we put on the pads and really know what we have they can make a lot better decisions about who could help out.
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
man, I'm good at technology :)
I was trying to say…
It’s not like the Chiefs are SOOO stacked at every position that they won’t be able to cut anyone…
there are plenty of Pink-slip-candidates on the roster today.
I'm not saying there's not candidates to cut
But what I am saying is the powers that be have undoubtedly already rated this guy and compared him to what we currently have. If he was rated higher, what makes you think they wouldn’t have already jumped on him?
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
His parents
his girlfriend
some other people in Columbia
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
I know what you mean about that but...
The guy probably still lives in Columbia which is only a couple hours away from KC.
Let him do a private workout and see what kind of shape he’s in.
This guy came from a very respectable Missouri program and has been a starter his whole career. I don’t think I need to tell everyone how badly we could use a 3-4 LB with potential.
Whether the Chiefs look at him or not...
I am just happy about the Raiders draft. In the first round, they take Darrius Heyward-Bey over the much-more-celebrated receiver Michael Crabtree. In the second round, they take safety Michael Mitchell who, it can be argued, should have been about a sixth round pick. Now they have nothing at all with their actual sixth round pick. This has to be one of the worst drafts in Raiders history! (Which means one of the worst drafts in history in general.)
by LarryDoggyDog on Jul 20, 2009 5:40 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
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