NaVorro Bowman: Linebacker visiting Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys

Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Four-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman is visiting the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders this week.

The free agent was released by the 49ers on Friday. A source told NFL Network Sunday that Bowman and the Raiders have mutual interest. A source also told ESPN that Bowman will meet with the Raiders on Monday and also visit with the Cowboys.

League sources told ESPN that San Francisco agreed to trade Bowman to the New Orleans Saints before his release. San Francisco also spoke with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers about the veteran defender.

Bowman, 29, has 37 total tackles and a pass defensed in five starts this season. He was an All-Pro every season from 2011 through 2015 and has been to three Pro Bowls.

The 49ers drafted Reuben Foster with the No. 31 pick overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Oakland signed linebacker Shilique Calhoun on Saturday after linebacker Marquel Lee injured his ankle in Week 5. The Raiders started undrafted rookie free agent Nicholas Morrow at middle linebacker in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Oakland is now 2-4 on the season.

San Fransisco coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch talked to reporters Friday about reports that the team was shopping Bowman this offseason. The 49ers have denied those reports.

"No, we weren't," Lynch told reporters. "I can tell you with complete confidence there. When Kyle and I were hired by Jed [York], it was understood, and we were hired with the understanding that we're the decision makers on the football side. Kyle and I had the power to do that. We are the decision makers. Neither one of us had a conversation with respect to Bo."

"Now, we also understand how this game works, and there's a lot of people who talk things, but that's one thing that I tried to dispel there. We were the only ones that could have made that decision. And so when you talk about shopping, I mean, I think we're the only two that could have shopped him. We did not shop him. We stand by that. It's the honest to God's truth and if you know us, that's who we are."

Dallas has Damien Wilson, Anthony Hitchens and Sean Lee topping the depth chart at linebacker. Lee is dealing with a hamstring injury while Hitchens and Jaylon Smith are both dealing with knee issues.