Zach Miller Raiders: Raiders Must Re-Sign Star TE in Wake of Losing Asomugha
When the Oakland Raiders lost Nnamdi Asomugha, they lost part of their soul. If they want to avoid losing what's left of it, the Raiders have to keep Zach Miller.
The tight end is a free agent, but hasn't drawn much interest yet. Oakland would love to keep him around, and with the veteran leadership dwindling Miller is just the guy a team like the Raiders needs to keep. Al Davis' prized possession had a rebirth last season, and they have to keep some of the strong voices in the locker room.
Hue Jackson is a promising hire, but he can't do it alone, and Miller would go a long way towards getting a veteran voice in the locker room who can command respect. Asomugha was a big part of Oakland's mentality and toughness, and now, it's time to bring Miller back into the fold, so he can set the tone and continue to produce at the tight end position.
Luckily for the Raiders, there aren't many stumbling blocks getting in the way of a new deal.
Per ESPN.com:
Miller’s foray into free agency has been interesting. He is one of the better offensive players available and there hasn’t been any legitimate reports of any interest. ESPN’s John Clayton described the lack of reported interest in the pass-catching machine as “baffling.”
I don’t want to pump false hope into the Raider Nation, but I perceive the hush surrounding Miller as a sign he will likely return to the Raiders. The Raiders are trying to create cap room by giving franchised linebacker Kamerion Wimbley a long-term deal. His agent is in the Bay Area and working with the Raiders on the deal.
Perhaps Miller and the Raiders have an agreement and are just waiting. The sides talked about a contract prior to the lockout and Miller has made it known that he wants to be a Raider. It would be crippling to Oakland’s progress if it lost Miller right after losing Asomugha.
It is quite stunning how little interest there has been in Miller, who is better than most, if not all of the tight end targets on the market, but that works out for the Raiders, who will need him to continue to be a safety valve in the offense.
He may not get the headlines of a guy like Antonio Gates, but anyone who has watched the Raiders can tell you how invaluable Miller is to their offense. Every quarterback needs a reliable target they can trust on a big play, and the big tight end is just that.
It is a new era in Oakland, and if the team is going to continue to make forward strides, it needs veteran leadership. Miller is one of the most tenured and respected Raiders, and keeping him around feels like a no-brainer.
Sooner or later, the Raiders will get this deal done and Jason Campbell can have an underneath target he can trust.
