2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

Raiders FAs remaining:
Barnes OT
Gafford LS
Holmes WR
Mays SS
Penn OT
Ross WR
Smith OLB
Streater WR
Webb OG

Re-Signed
Allen DB - 1 year, $3M
King P - 5 years, $16M

Exclusive Rights Players (These guys have to accept the tender or sit out of the NFL)
Roberts WR - Exclusive Rights
Autry DE - Exclusive Rights
Harris DE - Exclusive Rights
Toomer LB - Exclusive Rights
Holmes TE - Exclusive Rights

Not Returning
Bergstrom C - HOUSTON
Tuck DE RETIRED
Woodson FS RETIRED

 

There he is!

 

The prevailing notion with Stanley as the choice is to roll cheap with him at OT and have Osemele play his natural position at G. Unless out of the black we sign Penn again...

 

...and we gots him!

 

So far the SI Grades have been very good with one exception...

Osemele - B+: back history and only a small sample of games at LT
Irvin - C+: their take...not much impact when he plays
Smith - B+: too much $$$ and years for a 29 year old. Smith could be Albert Lewis Revisited...

Current news: Irvin now taking on recruiting Weddle...

Side note: Vernon now the highest paid DE in NFL history? Raiders backed out toute de suite upon learning his asking price. Vernon makes more paper than Watt.

 

Weddle makes us pretty sick. And then we draft well. Then we win the division.

 

http://www.silverandblackpride.com/...llowing-potential-raider-teammates-on-twitter

 

Fear The Beard?

 

http://m.raiders.com/news/article-1...-Osemele/e2c1974d-82c8-4753-a263-d9f22771590c

First image of KO as a Raider.

 

Del Rio has set goals on hosting a first round playoff game this upcoming season. So far through this free agency period, Denver has suffered some key defections. Kansas City and San Diego has stood somewhat pat.

 

Raiders looking at LB Erin Henderson from the Jets. He's an average LB according to their ranking system, isn't in the top 99 FAs on NFL.com. He graded out at 64.5 on PFF, putting him well ahead of Ray Ray Armstrong (51.7). So to that extent he's an upgrade. Word is he's 50/50 on Oakland/Jets.



He didn't start for the Jets, logged 200-something snaps. When he started for the Vikings, from 2011-2013, he picked up 8.5 sacks, totaled 163 solo tackles, forced 4 fumbles, defended 7 passes, and picked off 2 passes. Averaged 4.7 Added Value. Not bad.

 

^I remember him with the Vikings, Henderson produced. He was a solid contributor on D. 29 and just about there. The numbers are revealing. McKenzie is targeting players that are at or near their peak. No one just too young or too long in the tooth either.

 

Per SI's Don Banks:

5. Okay, here goes: The Raiders will make the playoffs in 2016, ending their 13-year postseason drought. Yep, I’m ready to go there. The Raiders made progress at 7–9 last season under first-year coach Jack Del Rio, and left a couple wins on the table. This year they play the less-than-daunting AFC South and NFC South, and if you take their one game against the 15–1 Panthers out of the mix, the rest of their opponents are 14 games under .500.

To that the Raiders have added three significant upgrades in free agency, paying handsomely for guard-tackle Kalechi Osemele, cornerback Sean Smith and edge rusher Bruce Irvin—solid pieces of the puzzle for a young team that features cornerstones like quarterback Derek Carr, pass-rusher Khalil Mack and receiver Amari Cooper. Oakland is finally ready to contend for the playoffs, and if Denver and/or Kansas City take the slightest step back after reaching the postseason from the AFC West last year, the Raiders’ chances to continue their ascent should only improve.

Restraining myself from channeling my inner Jim Mora: "Playoffs? Playoffs? Are You Kidding Me?"

 

Raider afterthoughts...

- Del Rio committed to strengthening the running game. Still need that another RB to spell Murray and keep him fresh.
- Norton's defensive schemes require fast, athletic LB's who can cover plus a bump and run secondary. Ergo: Irvin and Smith.
- April 28th can't arrive fast enough
- Flashed on a thought that Osweiler could end up the second coming of Marc Wilson. Houston might have a problem.
- Boldin? Andre Johnson? Nah... The former is intriguing since he can probably still make plays even if he is old as Metuselah.
- All the talk about Carr, Mack, Cooper, Murray et all but I am looking forward to a full time Clive Walford. Plus he's from The U!

 

Raider News [AFC West related]

- Denver just acquired Mark Sanchez... I don't know what to say. I'm trying not to laugh.

 

We can pick up a RB in the draft, but there are still some options (not great ones) if we want a vet for the mix.

We have our picks settled:
"Oakland has eight selections. They are: No. 14 (first round), 44 (second round), 75 (third round), 114 (fourth round), 143 (fifth round), 154 (fifth round), 194 (sixth round), 234 (seventh round)."

Boldin is one of my favorite players - and he's one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Here are his numbers next to Larry Fitzgerald's:
1018 receptions, 13366 yards, 98 TDs (Fitz)
1009 receptions, 13195 yards, 74 TDs (Boldin)

 

I don't understand it either.