ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent LB Preston Brown, the club announced Monday.
Brown, a 6-foot-1, 251-pound linebacker, joins the Raiders after spending the majority of the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent his first four years (2014-17) with the Buffalo Bills after being selected in the third round (71st overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. Over his career, Brown has appeared in 80 games and made 77 starts, compiling 598 tackles (341 solo), one sack, five interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, 14 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. In one postseason contest in 2017, Brown logged six tackles (four).
Last season, Brown started all seven of his appearances for the Bengals before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. He recorded 42 stops (27), two interceptions and four passes defensed. From 2014-17 with the Bills, Brown's 504 tackles ranked second-most in the NFL during that span, as he amassed at least 100 tackles in four consecutive campaigns, including a career-high 144 in 2017.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Brown played four years at Louisville (2010-13), appearing in 52 games with 37 starts, compiling 301 tackles, including 26 for loss, seven sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Brown will wear jersey No. 54 with the Raiders.
In a corresponding move, the Raiders placed WR/RS Dwayne Harris on the Reserve/Injured List.
