Gain:
WR Michael Crabtree (SF)
04/06:
Loss:
WR Denarius Moore - Signed with Cincinnati Bengals on a one year contract
Comment: There's one word to describe Moore's career after a spectacular rookie season with the Raiders: awful. Well this move makes sense just because of one name: Hue Jackson. During Moore's rookie season, he thrived under Hue's system and since Hue is the O-coordinator, there's a chance Moore can rekindle his 2011 form. However, let's see how far Moore's ego and lazy attitude takes him until training camp and preseason for the Bengals. The Bengals have A.J. Green and serviceable receivers like Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, so that leaves Moore with some incentive to compete for a roster spot.
04/02:
Gain:
OT J'Marcus Webb (MIN) - Signed to an undisclosed deal
Comment: When I saw the first name alone, my heart, like many other Raider fans, dropped. That name shall forever live in infamy. All jokes aside, bringing in Webb bring depth to the O-line and a camp body. He has familiarity with Bill Musgrave and O-line coach, Mike Tice during his tenures with the Vikings and the Bears.
03/31:
Loss:
DT Antonio Smith - Released
Comment: This was somewhat surprising. It's true that Antonio Smith didn't live up to his Ninja Assassin nickname early in the year as he struggled to play defensive tackle and stopping the run. The final stretch of games, he started to play a little better and maybe deserved to play another year to prove his worth. Under Del Rio, I expected him to go back to playing his natural position at defensive end, but Smith is getting up there in age, aside from another aging vet in Justin Tuck, who's going to provide the pass rush? The Raiders needed to get younger at that position and it's understandable why they released Smith. Cameron Jordan anyone? Or does that mean that Leonard Williams is high on the Raiders' draft board before Amari Cooper or Kevin White? It's all speculation from here.
03/26:
Loss:
DT Pat Sims - Signed back with the Cincinnati Bengals
Comment: This guy had all the potential in the world the first time he signed with the Raiders as a primary run stuffer two years ago. Last year, he re-signed with Raiders to see if he can follow up, turns out he didn't perform too well and eventually lost the starting job to rookie Justin Ellis. Sims proved that he's nothing more than a rotational tackle than a full time starting defensive tackle. I would've brought him back to bolster that depth at the defensive tackle with Ellis and now Dan Williams, but Sims chose to come back to the team that drafted him in Cincy.
03/25:
Gain:
DE C.J. Wilson - Re-signed to a 2 year $4.6 million deal
Comment: He wasn't expected back as he was visiting the Seahawks. It turns out the Seahawks didn't need his services, so Wilson decided to come back and re-sign with the Raiders. I thought he was pretty productive when given extended playing time, playing opposite of Tuck or playing inside. He's very solid at stopping the run and very useful for depth.
03/17:
Gain:
RB Trent Richardson (IND)
03/16:
Loss:
QB Matt Schaub - released
Comment: No more making $8 million just sitting on the bench with a clipboard on hand and holding when Janikowski comes out onto the field. No more throwing interceptions on special teams on a fake field goal try (see game @ Cleveland Browns). No more throwing pick sixes, even in garbage time (see game @ St. Louis Rams). No more.
03/13:
Gain:
QB Christian Ponder (MIN) - Signed to an undisclosed 1 year deal
Comment:
I'm not going to panic as much as people will do. Ponder is a mere camp body for QB competition. That and he's familiar with Musgrave's offense.
CB James Dockery (CAR) - Signed to an undisclosed deal
Comment: Always good to have depth in the secondary in case McGill, Hayden, or Carrie go down.
Loss:
Darren McFadden
03/12:
Gain:
S Nate Allen (PHI) - Signed to an undisclosed deal
Comment: I'm hearing a lot of negative vibes about this guy from the Philly fans. But we have to realize that overall, the Eagles pass defense was just awful. The week 15 home game against the Cowboys exposed the Eagles secondary. I mean nobody could cover Dez Bryant that game, cornerbacks, safeties were getting burned all over the place. Looking at Allen's stats, it's pretty decent for a "mediocre" safety. 300+ tackles, 4 INTs, he definitely showed some improvement as he was graded a +3.9, almost cracking the top 5 category in PFF. It's a risk-reward pickup, but keep in mind, the Raiders' secondary coaching staff has Marcus Robertson and Rod Woodson and you have C-Wood being that mentor to the secondary, so the ceiling is still high for Nate to improve his game at the safety position.
*Updated contract details: 4 years, $23 million
03/11:
Gain:
C Rodney Hudson (KC)
LB Curtis Lofton (NO)
DT Dan Williams (ARZ)
*Updated contract details: 5 years $25 million
03/10: Start of Free Agency
Gain:
Roy Helu Jr. (WAS) - Signed to a 2 year $4 million deal
Comment: I guess it's safe to assume that the Darren McFadden era in Oakland is over with the emergence of Latavius Murray and now the signing of Helu. Solid depth for the position. He used to be the Redskins' feature back before losing that role to Alfred Morris. Great complimentary back to Murray going foward.
TE Lee Smith (BUF) - Signed to a 3 year $9 million deal
Comment: Everybody will ask "Who?" when it comes to these kind of signings, especially with a tight end who is not involved in the passing game much. However, from what hear, this guy is primarily a blocking tight end. Again, it places a lot emphasis on the running game and even though Mychal Rivera is a decent TE, he's only best in catching and not blocking. Nick Kasa was drafted primarily to be a blocking TE, but he couldn't stay healthy. By adding Lee Smith, it's a "Who?" signing, but a blocking tight end is something the Raiders need, especially since the running game is going to be emphasized in Bill Musgrave's offense.
LB Malcolm Smith (SEA) - Signed to a undisclosed deal
Comment: The Super Bowl XLVIII MVP has been quietly on the radar for the Raiders in free agency. If you look at it, Nick Roach's football career is uncertain and the Raiders had to cut him and this is a great replacement. Also, he'll be reuniting with Ken Norton, Jr. and those two had a lot of history together in Seattle. Overall, good signing and it fortifies the youth movement in the linebacker corps.
*Updated contract details: 2 years, $7 million
Loss:
DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley - Cut, signed to a 1 year contract with the Arizona Cardinals
Comment: Woodley was brought in along with Justin Tuck to provide veteran leadership for the Raiders last season and he only had one job and that was getting after the quarterback, playing at the defensive end in the 4-3. It just didn't work out and Woodley didn't do much to make an impact. 6 tackles, 0 sacks speaks for itself. Not to mention, he got injured again and was out for the remainder of the year. Not too much of a loss, but I'm sure he'll be a better fit for the Cardinals defense and play his natural OLB spot.
SS Tyvon Branch - Cut, signed to a 1 year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs
Comment: Usually, you'd hate to see one of your players go to a divisional rival, but this might be an exception. Branch was a decent strong safety, but he just couldn't stay healthy the last few years. Even though Branch signed with the Chiefs, I look at it as a change of scenery, a possible rejuvenation for his career. We already know the Chiefs' situation regarding their star safety, Eric Berry and his recovery from lymphoma. By signing Branch, they have a safety that could fill that position for the time being until their pro bowl safety gets back to 100% recovery.
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