Report: Raiders have shown interest in TE Jermichael Finley

The most interesting name on the free agent market right now is former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. He is just 27-years-old and is a season removed from being one of the best tight ends in the league. The 6-4, 240-pounder is still on the market because of a serious neck injury he suffered last season that required surgery.

A couple teams poked around him early in free agency but he went unsigned because he was not deemed completely recovered from the neck surgery. His doctor has cleared him to play but no NFL team, including his former team, the Packers, has stepped up to take on that risk.

Now NFL Network's Ian Rappoport is reporting the Raiders and the Steelers are both showing interest in signing Finley. The reason the Steelers have shown interest could be in large part due to Finley's doctor being their team doctor. The free agent tight end also visited the Patriots last week.

The reason for the suddenly uptick in interest could be due in part to the passing of June 1st. After that date any players signed by teams does not count against their overall total in regards to compensatory draft picks.

Finley also has a $10 million insurance policy so he will very likely be looking for a muli-year deal that trumps that figure to play again, though that would be a tough sell with the risk his injury carries.

The Raiders currently have over $10 million in 2014 cap space available and are looking to spend it. They also have some uncertainty at the tight end position with unproven David Ausberry as the projected starter and two 2013 sixth round picks Mychal Rivera and Nick Kasa behind him.

Reggie McKenzie was in Green Bay during most of Finley's career there and the Raiders have added James Jones who played along side him with the Packers. If the Raiders really want Finley, there's no reason they can't get him.

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