03/22:
(-)
DE, Benson Mayowa - Signed with the Dallas Cowboys
Comment: Considering he was a restricted free agent, the Raiders had five days to match the Cowboys' offer sheet and they refused to match the offer. Mayowa was a serviceable defensive end for the Raiders, but he was valuable depth for the D-line. Luckily, Denico Autry, Shelby Harris, and Leon Orr are going to make up for Benson's departure in terms of D-line depth and the Raiders still have the draft to address the area and this year is definitely loaded with D-line talent. I wish Mayowa the best of luck in Dallas.
03/16:
(+)
S, Brynden Trawick (BAL) - Signed to a 1-year deal
Comment: A lot of people are bagging on this signing after losing out on Eric Weddle. Likely, Reggie is going to make the safety position as a top priority of the draft. The addition of Trawick adds depth to safety position and as much as Trawick is going to be remembered colliding with Jacoby Jones on a punt three seasons ago, in the Ravens' opener vs. the Broncos, Trawick is likely going to spend time on special teams.
OT, Donald Penn
03/15:
(+)
WR, Andre Holmes - Re-signed to a 1-year deal
Comment: The return of Holmes pretty much retains the receiving corps of last season. That should spell good news for Derek Carr for the sake of continuity on the Raiders' offense.
(-)
G/T, J'Marcus Webb - Signed with the Seattle Seahawks
Comment: Webb was just a serviceable right guard and I thought he wasn't the long-term answer for the Raiders at that position. It would be wise for the Seahawks to keep him at that position rather than at offensive tackle where he struggled the most throughout his NFL career.
03/14:
(+)
LB, Daren Bates (LA) - Signed to a 1-year deal
Comment: At this stage of free agency, Reggie is going in cheap to add some quality depth to the team after making a splash on three big free agents. I think that's why they lost the Eric Weddle sweepstakes to Baltimore, but knowing Reggie, there was no way he was going to offer Weddle that kind of money Baltimore gave him. The signing of Daren Bates brings depth to the linebacker position and reading the article, he is a solid special teams guy. He took a page out of Troy Polamalu's book of jumping over the Long Snapper for a blocked field goal. Maybe he influenced Kam Chancellor to go for a block field goal attempt in the divisional round against the Panthers a year ago.
03/12:
(-)
WR, Rod Streater
03/11:
(-)
LB, Curtis Lofton - Released
Comment: Lofton was supposed to be the Raiders' answer for the "Mike" position at linebacker and be that signal caller on defense, but the signal calling duties was handed to Malcolm Smith and Lofton fallen out of favor when Ben Heeney stepped up. Solid as a run defender, but as a pass defender? He was terrible and eventually became a liability as the season progressed.
03/10:
(+)
CB, Sean Smith (KC)
03/09: Beginning of Free Agency Period
(+)
LB, Bruce Irvin (SEA)
OG, Kelechi Osemele (BAL)
(-)
G/C, Tony Bergstrom - Agreed to sign with the Houston Texans
Comment: The last of Reggie McKenzie's first draft class of 2012. The time he actually played, I thought he was a serviceable fill-in at center when Rodney Hudson was hurt last season, but overall he doesn't fit in with the power/gap blocking scheme the Raiders have been running since they showed Greg Knapp the door. Not too much of a loss, but happy for Bergstrom that he's going to get an opportunity to showcase his talent to a team that runs the ZBS (Zone Blocking Scheme).
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