Looking Forward: Raiders 2012 Free Agents

 Posted by at 7:27 PM  16 Responses »
Jan 022012
 

Khalif Barnes – Weakest link on the offensive line with youth behind him. Raiders will look for for other options. It’s not as if there aren’t a dozen Khalif’s on the street each year.

Darryl Blackstock – Was a Chuck Bresnahan guy, but found a home on special teams. Would have to make the team as a reserve LB and special teams guy next training camp. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him back as a camp body or gone entirely.

Kyle Boller – Hue didn’t have enough confidence to turn to Boller. Expect the Raiders to look elsewhere for a backup to Carson Palmer.

Jerome Boyd – Was nothing more than a reserve and special teams player. Some good moments and some very bad ones. Camp body again and fate will depend on the defensive coordinator.

Tyvon Branch – About the only consistent producer in the secondary. Raiders will want to bring him back.

Desmond Bryant – He’s been great in limited action and can play inside and out. Key reserve.

Michael Bush – He’ll find a home as a starter if the Raiders don’t franchise tag him.

Jason Campbell – Good as gone. He’ll find a place to start with yet another new coach and coordinator.

Cooper Carlisle – Has proven surprisingly versatile in scheme. Good veteran. Raiders could go for new right side or keep Carlisle in the mix.

Rock Cartwright – Commitment to Excellence Award winner in consecutive years and the Raiders special teams captain. He’ll be back.

Matt Giordano – Had good moments, but unless the Raiders move Michael Huff to corner full time there is a good chance the Raiders address the lack of depth at cornerback and move Huff back to free safety full time.

Quentin Groves – Good as gone. Aaron Curry trade was made strictly to take him out of the starting lineup.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Came in to be a familiar face for Palmer, hardly played down the stretch.

Bryan McCann – With a healthy Ford, Moore and Jones hard to imagine he is back, but showed enough to catch on elsewhere.

Jarvis Moss – May have played his last down in Oakland as Desmond Bryant gobbled up his snaps after he got injured and has only occasionally flashed pass rush skills. Liability against the run.

Marcel Reece – Better believe the Raiders will bring him back.

Samson Satele – Did he play well enough to keep Stefen Wisniewksi at left guard? Maybe.

Chaz Schilens – It comes down to this: Raiders have 4 younger receivers under contract.

Trevor Scott – Hardly saw the field this season. Once a potential star…now just a ball of gas.

Lito Sheppard – Picked up off the street because the Raiders had injuries. Will be there again next year.

Pryor Signs, Tatupu Next?

 Posted by at 11:49 PM  No Responses »
Aug 252011
 

Reports surfaced early Thursday that Terrelle Pryor had agreed to terms with the Raiders. Of course, Raiders executive John Herrera denied the report, but said Pryor would hopefully sign his deal tonight.

Well, now it is official, Terrelle Pryor has signed his contract and the Raiders have announced he will be on the field Friday in Napa.

Friday marks the final day of training camp and it will be interesting to see how the Raiders handle Pryor before breaking camp.

The timing couldn’t be better. The Raiders will showcase Pryor for one day at camp before returning to the uber-secret facility in Alameda where they can start to starch and iron Pryor’s warts.

Pryor’s deal is worth $2,808,100 over four years if he hits all the playing time incentives. In 2011, $586,000 is guaranteed with a base salary of $375,000. In 2012, he will earn $485,000 and $20,300 available in playing time incentives. In 2013, his salary will be $595,000 with a playing time incentive of $40,700. In 2014, his salary will be $645,000 with a 61,100 play-time incentive.

Very reasonable deal for a boom or bust type prospect like Pryor. The best comparison I’ve heard is Seneca Wallace, but Pryor is bigger and faster than Wallace.

With Pryor’s deal complete that leaves just one lingering question? Are the Raiders going to bring in a linebacker?

The Raiders have been in constant contact with Lofa Tatupu, but have been looking for a player that can play outside linebacker. There is much concern if Tatupu would be effective outside or would be more of an insurance policy for Rolando McClain.

Keith Bulluck’s name has been floated by some as a potential outside linebacker option.

The Raiders might pull the trigger on Tatupu or a player like Bulluck in the next few days or wait until cuts are made around the league to see what kind of quality is available at linebacker.

Tatupu and Bulluck probably don’t have a ton of suitors, so the Raiders can afford to gamble and wait to see what kind of player become available over the next two weeks.