When the Seahawks opted not pick up the fifth-year option on Bruce Irvin’s rookie contract, he was poised to enter free-agency. On March 10, 2016, Irvin signed with the Oakland Raiders on a four-year deal worth $37 million.
After spending the first four seasons of his career in Seattle, Irvin was looking to make a bigger name for himself elsewhere. Being a cog in a stacked defense for the Seahawks was something Irvin was not always ecstatic about, because his pass-rushing abilities were not on full display, nor was his jaw-dropping athleticism.
Irvin immediately made a name himself with Raider Nation, self-proclaiming himself as “Baby Reggie” due to his proactive recruiting of other potential free agents.