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The Oakland Raiders declined safety Karl Joseph's fifth-year option but Jon Gruden made it clear on Friday that doesn't mean the team doesn't want him.
Gruden confirmed on Friday the team did decline Joseph's fifth-year option, but also explained the reason why they made the decision.
Gruden on #Raiders opting not to exercise Karl Joseph's fifth-year option: "That’s a big story for some people. But that does not mean that we don’t want Karl with us this year and in the future."
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) May 3, 2019
“Yes, yes we did,” Gruden said on Friday via 24/7 Sports. “It's a big story for some people, but that does not mean that we do not want Karl with us and in the future. All that means is that we didn't exercise the fifth-year option. If you really study the fifth-year option and what it entails, it entails a lot. It does not mean, by any means, that we do not want Karl Joseph as a captain or as a leader on this team, now or in the future.”
If the Raiders were to put up Joseph's option the team would have been on the hook for his $6.446 million salary for the 2020 season which means the team were to bring him back they would expect it to be under that number.
Declining the option gives the Raiders one more year to look at Joseph and also Jonathan Abram who they just brought in with the 27th pick and decide next offseason what they want to do.
Joseph didn't play a ton to start last season but once he was given a chance he actually moved into the starting role and played well. It appears that Joseph will be on the roster for this upcoming season but after that is anyone's guess.
