Skip to main content

Mixed Messages

What an offseason it has been. $50+ million in guarantees to free agents. Just plain wow! Holding the #4 pick the Raiders keep throwing the fans and media off their trail. First they sign Fargas to a a contact and McFadden becomes and after thought. McFadden comes back into the picture when we sign Kelly to play DT and we realize Fargas deal is a one year deal in disguise. McFadden again is on the table.

Then instead of cutting Rhodes we restructure his deal. That gives us Bush, Rhodes, Fargas to make the roster. This leaves little room for McFadden if he falls to #4. Some well respected people don't expect McFadden to last that long, as the Jets or some other team will trade up to get him. If he does fall to #4 it puts us in a difficult situation with so many running backs on the roster. I compare this now to what I said about us not drafting a DT with #4. Just too many eggs in one basket. Even though I like McFadden a lot, again it doesn't make sense...maybe the Raiders will surprise me again.

My other favorite is Vernon Gholston. However I stated that because the Raiders like Richardson so much and we have Burgess that it might not make sense. WR and DE continue to be the most thin positions on the roster. So I bump Gholston up to my 51% chance draft selection for the Raiders. Still doesn't seem to be a great fit considering the Raiders think they have their starters at DE.

CB: Aso, Routt, Washington, Carr <--set
S: Huff, Wilson, Stu. Eugene <--set
LB: Howard, Morrison, Thomas, Williams <-- thin here, but not in need of a top pick, we need two backups with good special teams ability
DT: Kelly, Warren, Sands <--We could add one more, but we have a lot of money invested here so likely a late rounder pick or a lesser known FA
DE: Burgess, Richardson <--need 2 more

FB: O'Neal, Griffith <--set
WR: Walker, Curry, Higgins, etc <--Could still use one more solid WR
RB: Fargas, Bush, Rhodes, Echemandu <--I want McFadden, but for sake of fairness...set
QB: Russell, Walter <--I could see us needing two as we may trade Walter
OT: Harris, Henderson, Green <--not a special group, probably could add one)
OG: Gallery, Carlisle, Morris <--set
OC: Newberry, Grove <--Newberry isn't a done deal, but I'd have to think he will be back
OC/OG: Morris
OG/OT: McQuistan

I just don't know what player at #4 we would be most inclined to take. RB, DT, DE none of them make great sense.

Raider Nation will likely be split on whoever we pick for this reason and if we trade down we will have a split among fans that think it is good and those that think we missed the chance to take a big time player.

Al Davis always surprises, and dang he is good at keeping anyone from knowing what he is thinking.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea...

The Raiders aren't who we thought they were....they're better

The Oakland Raiders are tired of being the team that will be good in a year or two. The team expects to win now and it is winning now. We thought the Raiders needed more talent. We thought that being in the playoff hunt was a year away for this team, but we were wrong. This isn't the team we thought they were, they're better. On Sunday, they moved to 3-3 on Sunday with a 37-29 win over the San Diego Chargers that wasn't close until the final minute. It was also the Raiders second road win of the season. The last time the Raiders had two road wins by their sixth game was 2011. Before that, a five-year streak from 1998-2002. The Raiders went 8-8 in 1998, 1999 and 2011 and narrowly missed the playoffs each year.  They made the playoffs in 2000, 2001 and 2002. They didn't have a losing record in any of those seasons because teams that can win on the road are usually pretty good. As the season matures, there is more and more evidence that some of the "best-case scenario...

Oakland Raiders' Studs and Duds From Preseason Week 1

[embed]http://gty.im/484069738[/embed] The Oakland Raiders finally look like a competitive football team again. That should be the biggest takeaway from their preseason rout of the St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Derek Carr and the offense looked significantly improved from a year ago, thanks in large part to some of the studs listed below. The starting defense was still a little shaky, but there were still a few bright spots. Overall, the Raiders can feel good about their first live action of the year, especially since there appeared to be no significant injuries to come out of it. Studs Rodney Hudson Of all general manager Reggie McKenzie's offseason acquisitions, he committed the most money to center Rodney Hudson. Offensive linemen rarely get the praise they deserve, but a great offensive line as anchored in the middle can be huge for an offense. Hudson was very solid in his debut against a very good defensive front. If Hudson and the offensive line can consistently protect Carr an...