On Thursday afternoon, the Oakland Raiders released their top cornerback, Stanford Routt, on the grounds that his $5 million in guaranteed base salary, as well as other exorbitant guarantees, far overvalued his level of play. Last night, Routt's agent told reporters that his client has lined up visits not only with the Buffalo Bills, but also with Tennessee.
Routt, who will turn 29 in July, is a seven-year pro that signed his now-defunct massive contract when the Raiders lost Nnamdi Asomugha to Philadelphia in free agency. He was one of the NFL's most-penalized defenders in the league last year, tallying 17 penalties for a highly undisciplined Oakland team. That was the highest total of any cornerback in the league - and more importantly, after a strong 2010 season, Routt's play suffered last season without Asomugha on the other side of the field.
Still, Routt is a big (6'1", 195 pounds), fast, physical cornerback capable of playing the multitude of coverages that the Bills employ. Buffalo's interest in the free agent could spell trouble for at least one of two veteran corners already on the roster: Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin. (Our bet is on the injury-prone McGee.) In Buffalo, Routt would easily compete for a starting job alongside Drayton Florence and Aaron Williams.
Routt will arrive in Buffalo on Sunday and visit with the team on Monday. He can sign with a team at any point, as he was released and does not need to wait for his contract to expire like other impending free agents.