2014 Oakland Raiders Offseason Activity (will be constantly updated)

03/15:

Gain:

FS Usama Young - Re-signed to a 2 year deal

COMMENT: Glad to see at least one player from our secondary last season re-signed. Young is a great backup at safety for special defensive packages and a very relatable, stand up locker room guy.

Loss:

03/14:

Gain:

DE Antonio Smith (HOU) - Signed to a 2 year $9 M deal

COMMENT: JJ Watt's partner in crime! But our defensive ends so far are in the 30s range in age with Tuck (30) & now Smith (32), but they still have some mileage left to still get after the quarterback on the edge. Legit pass rush duo McKenzie has brought together via free agency.

CB Tarell Brown (SF) - Signed to a 1 year $3.5 M deal (via Twitter)

COMMENT: Very underrated pickup. Played opposite end of Carlos Rodgers, but I think the 49ers have more confidence going forward with Tramaine Brock. Since McKenzie is going defense first, he's now addressing the secondary and follow the pattern the last three signings including this one: defensive line (Tuck), linebacker (Woodley), and secondary (Brown).

Loss:

DT Vance Walker - Signed to a 3 year $13 M deal with the Kansas City Chiefs (via Twitter)

COMMENT: The worst thing that could happen is getting one of your own players signed to a division rival. Walker had his moments in Oakland, but didn't do much impact because Pat Sims was getting the spotlight on the inside.

03/13:

Gain:

LB LaMarr Woodley (PIT) - Signed to 2 year $12 M deal

COMMENT: A great addition to an already-solid linebacker corps, but I think he's going to play majority of minutes as a defensive end. At least Woodley can provide that leadership role at linebacker from his experience playing with a solid, but aging Steelers defense. Likely, Tarver will hit him up with creative defensive packages on playing his natural outside Linebacker spot and as a full time defensive end. Sio Moore could learn a thing or two from him to get after the quarterback quickly.

DE Justin Tuck (NYG) - Signed to a 2 year $11 M deal

COMMENT: This is a signing I can live with. The Saffold deal was just another failed experiment, major setback, but McKenzie is getting a grip and recovering step by step. I like the Tuck signing, played opposite end of JPP and they can give offensive tackles hell when healthy. Last season, Tuck had to carry all the pass rushing load considering JPP was out majority of the season. We have a decent pass rusher to say the least, but the defensive line still has a lot beefing up to do and hopefully we can snag Jason Hatcher to fill the interior.

Loss:

CB Tracy Porter - Agreed to sign with the Washington Redskins

COMMENT: Another frustrating loss. I just would've love to see our secondary in tact because that's one of the positions that I feel is good enough to stay along with our linebacker corps if we just build around a decent defensive line to rock the pocket. With Porter going to Washington, it's an interesting pair up with him and DeAngelo Hall, although Porter is usually fit in Dime packages, but he's proven to be a starting-caliber cornerback (I mean the dude picked off Peyton Manning to seal the Saints' first Super Bowl victory). Paging Walter Thurmond?

03/11: Start of Free Agency

Gain:

OT Austin Howard (NYJ) - Signed to a 5 year $30 M deal

COMMENT: I said in my preview that there are three priorities the Raiders have to address in the offseason and one of them is offensive line. Reggie McKenzie is doing just that signing Saffold early on at the start of free agency and now, before the end of day 1, inked ex-New York Jets right tackle, Austin Howard. I honestly don't like how we've given big contracts to two offensive linemen, Saffold, that was questionable and Howard, a little understanding since he's one of the best right tackles available in the market. Putting a lot of beef on the O-line, now I would like to see Reggie find a way now to address the already-thin defensive line and at least, just one decent play maker.

RB Darren McFadden - Re-signed to a 1 year $4 M deal

COMMENT: UGH! Well it was indeed an option to bring back McFadden for cheap. A lot of fans like myself are livid due to the fact that he can't stay healthy, we want him to walk but for him to be put on a 1 year deal is a safe deal and McKenzie is saying that "we're giving you one more chance to deliver for a full season, if not, you'll be gone permanently" and rightfully so. It makes sense too since Jennings is gonna sign with the Giants.

OT Rodger Saffold (STL) - Signed to a 5 year $42.5 M deal (UPDATE: Contract signing nullified after Saffold failed his physical)

COMMENT: We needed a fallback since Jared Veldheer is going to Arizona. Haven't seen too much on Saffold, but what I'm hearing in the comments section, not positive and McKenzie's gotta pick it up after losing two of his top tier free agents early on in the new NFL year. UPDATE: Well at least that saves wasted cap money. Kinda like the Jared Gaither situation back in 2011 where the same thing happened when Gaither failed his physical and couldn't sign a contract with the Raiders. McKenzie has to start leveling up his game because the top tier free agents are selling out fast.


Loss:

RB Rashad Jennings - Agreed to sign with the New York Giants (via Twitter) (Contract Details: 4 years $14 M)

COMMENT: Another free agent I'd love the Raiders to bring back gone. Jennings helps toughen up the Giants' running game with his physical style of running. Now the Raiders definitely have a wide open competition at running back unless we bring somebody like a Darren Sproles or a Knowshon Moreno (I'm just making guesses).

DE Lamarr Houston - Signed with the Chicago Bears to a 5 year $35 M deal           
OT Jared Veldheer - signed with the Arizona Cardinals to a 5 year $37.5 M deal          

COMMENT: Welp there goes our top priorities, it was expected since respectively, Houston and Veldheer have garnered high interests for the Bears and Cardinals respectively, Bears needed a backup plan since Julius Peppers is about to depart and Veldheer, reunites with Carson Palmer; the Cardinals got a top tier offensive tackle