ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting that former Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Zach Brown is visiting with the Oakland Raiders. The visit is Brown’s first in the free agency period.
Brown, 27, made his first Pro Bowl last season as an alternate, his first (and likely only) campaign in Buffalo. He recorded 149 tackles (97 solo) with four sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. The former second-round pick out of North Carolina spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
There had been some hope that Brown would remain with the Bills as they transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense under new head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. From the outset of free agency, however, it seemed clear that a return to the Bills wasn’t in the cards.
Back in Buffalo, it’s likely that Brown’s role will be filled by Reggie Ragland, last year’s second-round pick who missed the year with an ACL tear. The Bills have also brought Pro Bowler Lorenzo Alexander back into the fold along with veteran Preston Brown, who is entering a contract year himself in 2017.