Yahoo Sports Dolphins trade starting LB Raekwon McMillan to Raiders
The Miami Dolphins traded inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan to the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
Head coach Brian Flores confirmed the news to reporters at practice on Saturday.
“He's somebody who I have a lot of respect for,” Flores told reporters. “He's a talented player.”
Minimal return for Dolphins
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins sent McMillan and a fifth-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft.
The Dolphins drafted McMillan out of Ohio State in the second round of the 2017 draft. He missed his rookie season with a torn ACL suffered in practice. Since then, he has started 28 of the 29 games he’s played in while tallying 177 tackles.
Why did Dolphins deal McMillan?
McMillan is entering the final season of his four-year, $4.7 million rookie contract and will be a free agent next season barring an extension with the Raiders. The Dolphins apparently had no intention of re-signing him and prioritized improving their draft positioning over having him on the field this season.
“He's someone who I think will have a long career but there's a lot of depth in that room,” Flores said of McMillan and the Dolphins linebacker corps.
The Raiders, meanwhile, add a potential starter at a position of need without giving up much in return.
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