Raiders make big splash, but still dry at WR
The Oakland Raiders have never been quiet when it comes to free agency, and 2008 is no different. This year, they're letting their money talk. Real loud.
After re-signing 27-year-old lineman Tommy Kelly to the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle, the Raiders went out and signed one of the big names of this year's class, ex-New York Giants safety Gibril Wilson, to a six-year, $39 million deal. The 26-year-old will be paid $19.5 million over the next three years, and the deal makes him the third-highest-paid safety in the NFL.
Together, the two contracts dish out $89.5 million in exchange for 13 combined years of service from Kelly and Wilson on the Raider defense.
In the meantime, leaving the 'D' was the team's sack leader from last season, defensive end Chris Clemons, who signed a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
Offensively, it was a much different story for Oakland.
The Oakland Raiders headed into the weekend with high hopes that they'd land a big-name wideout to bolster a thinning receiving corps, but had no luck.
Former second-round WR Jerry Porter was lured away from the silver and black by the Jacksonville Jaguars with a six-year, $30 million contract. The 29-year-old Porter, who's been with the Raiders since 2000, ranks sixth on the team's all-time receiving list with 284 catches for 3,939 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Expected possible free-agent replacements for Porter were ex-Chicago Bears wideout Bernard Berrian, former Patriots receiver Donte Stallworth, Saints pass catcher Devery Henderson and former Arizona Cardinals wideout Bryant Johnson.
All, however, are now off the market.
Berrian agreed to a six-year, $42-million contract with the Vikings; Stallworth inked a seven-year deal with the Browns worth $35 million; Henderson was re-signed by New Orleans; and Johnson was lured away by the Buffalo Bills.
At their current state, the Raiders' roster includes only one wide receiver with more than 10 career catches presently under contract. That player is soon-to-be seventh-year wideout Ronald Curry, who has 174 career grabs.
If the kickoff of the '08 regular season were today, Oakland's WR lineup would likely be Curry and Johnnie Lee Higgins as the starters, with Jonathan Holland and Chris McFoy in the slots. Together, Higgins, Holland and McFoy have just seven career receptions.
Luckily, however, there is still some availability in the free-agent market.
Former Panthers wideout Drew Carter is still a free agent, along with ex-Ravens pass catcher Devard Darling and recently released Denver Bronco Javon Walker. Each has more experience than any Raider receiver outside of Curry. In particular, if Oakland can land either Walker or Carter, both appear capable of replacing Porter next season.
With the first wave of moves ahead, though, it's clear that Oakland has plenty of work to do with respect to bolstering its emaciated receiving corps. If they rely solely on the draft in late April, it'll be too little, too late.
And you know ... Randy Moss is still available.
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