Every year there are those guys who somehow slipped through the cracks in the draft and then show out for the team that signs them. Amari Gainer is looking like one such player for the Raiders.
He was one of the Raiders 30 visits in the offseason so they could get an up close and personal look at him. And his preparations for joining the Raiders began right then.
“For me it was be prepare for anything. Be ready to play anything,” said Gainer of his NFL preparation. “Throughout my career I played inside/outside backer, so it was make sure I had those base fundamentals of outside/inside backer and also preparing for the pro day, getting as big, strong, and as fast as I can before I got here. That was the main thing. And then coming up here on a 30 visit I got to see the scheme and got to hone in on a little more specific stuff that I would be doing when I got here. So, that was great.”
The Raiders liked what they saw from Graint, but thought he had a chance to fly under the radar in the draft, where they then made him a priority free agent signing.
Antonio Pierce is a former undrafted NFL linebacker himself. He certainly thought Gainer looked the part.
“When he came in the door day one, it was like, ‘Wow, this is a pretty sucker here,” said Pierce. “He looks good and you saw the movement with him in college from Florida State to North Carolina, but there was always like, ‘Man, there’s more to him.’”
Gainer started to really separate himself in the preseason. And by the end of it, he had the Raiders coaching staff’s attention.
“I think the best thing that happened for him was that last game,” Pierce continued. “He went out there and played 90-plus snaps. 70-plus on defense and another 15 or so on special teams. And all you saw throughout the game, and we’ve been seeing it all preseason, is a guy just getting better and better. But more importantly, somebody that just was playing his heart out. And it meant something to him.”
The 6-3, 236-pounder was among the league leaders in tackles this preseason. His 17 tackles were 19th most, two were for a loss, two on special teams, and he added two pass breakups.
“He’s put himself in position, not just at linebacker, but on special teams, to be one of the core guys for us. There’s still some development there at the linebacker position that will take place over the course of the season, but he gives us a lot of flexibility because of what he’s able to do both on the line of scrimmage, off the ball linebacker and special teams.”
To be referred to as a player who could be a core guy on this team is high praise for any rookie, let alone one who was not drafted. Gainer is not shying away from that role.
“It’s great to come here and be a younger guy now and lead by example and let my play talk for itself,” said Gainer.
While Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo will lead the way as the starting linebackers, Gainer is certainly in the mix to be the next man up. He has the makings of a core special teams player as well. And that’s on a team that is currently holding onto seven linebackers on the 53-man roster.