March 1, 2008
Free Agency Update: Oakland Raider targets Berrian and Stallworth are off the market, whats next for Oakland?
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The Oakland Raiders were looking at Bernard Berrian and Donte Stallworth as possible upgrades to their depleted wide receiver corps. Along the way Berrian stayed in the NFC North and and signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Donte Stallworth joined Brayon Edwards and Kellen Winslow in Cleveland to give the Browns a dangerous receiving squad. The Raiders must now go back to their flow charts and look at plan B. Perhaps they could go after Bryant Johnson, Javon Walker, or DJ Hackett. Or they may see better options in the draft. I would think that they land at least one free agent.
Bryant Johnson has been successful as a third receiver in Arizona, but when Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bouldin are the one and two, so being third is misleading. He also benefited from the extra coverage given to Bouldin and Fitzgerald, so its hard to say how well he would do as a front line threat.
DJ Hackett has been injury prone in his career, but when healthy he has been a very good receiver for the SeaHawks. The Raiders may try to roll the dice on Hackett with an incentive laden deal.
Javon Walker was released by the arch rival Denver Broncos. When he is on, he is a very good threat at receiver. He has battled injuries, and the baggage of having his best friend Darrent Williams die in his arms. Maybe a change of scenery would help Walker get back on track. This would be a classic Al Davis signing here, a receiver with a bit of a troubled past, great physical tools, that is coming from a division rival. If Walker holds any ill will towards the Broncos organization he may be licking his chops to come to the arch rivals and show that he can do it.
There is no all world receiver in the draft this year as there was with Calvin Johnson last year. If the Raiders are going to target a receiver in the first, they would likely trade down with that pick. Al Davis could love DeShaun Jackson from Cal, because he would remind Al of the should be Hall of Famer Cliff Branch. If he falls to the second, I don't think that there is any way that Al could pass on him.
The Raiders do need to do something with their receiver position. They made the first positive move by shipping Jerry Porter out, now they need someone in his place who will actually play.
Discussion
20 Comments on "Free Agency Update: Oakland Raider targets Berrian and Stallworth are off the market, whats next for Oakland?"
#1
Posted by BErrian and Stallworth off the market, whats next for Oakland? - Oakland Raiders Forum | Message Boa, March 1, 2008 2:58 PM
[...] and Stallworth off the market, whats next for Oakland? Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - Most Valuable Network ª Blog Archive ª Free Agency Update: Oakla... __________________ "While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a [...]
#2
Posted by LDizzle, March 1, 2008 3:34 PM
Another decent option would be Sammy Parker from KC. Although none of the options out there are going to upgrade our receiver corp. If Javon Walker could keep his mouth shut and be a team player he might be good. Hard to say if he can ever return to his GB form though. It was always my opinion that he was one of many WR over the years that Favre made look better than they really were. I am extremely disappointed that Berrian went to Minnesota instead of coming home. He would certainly have a better QB throwing to him here but apparently his main focus is money and nothing else.
I am not too psyched about Ebenezer screwed coming to the Raiders. Nearly that entire Broncos defense was terrible last year. But if he comes cheap, then give him a shot. We certainly can use some healthy competition in camp.
There have been many trades. Most of which seem to be NT which we all know is what we need and while I am very disappointed that the Raiders weren't part of any of them, there is still trades that can be made so hopefully something will go down.
#3
Posted by OakFoSho, March 1, 2008 4:41 PM
I think that the best place to look for a WR at this point is in the draft. There are a lot of guys with a lot of upside that would fit in great on the Raiders. Malcolm Kelly, DeSean Jackson, Mario Manningham, Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas, would all be nice pickups in the draft.
Even though the Raiders could not get Berrian or Stallworth, I did not expect them to fill every need in FA. I think if the Raiders can sign Kwame then they can focus on D-Line help and WR in the draft. That seems manageable at this point, so I am satisfied with the Raiders FA progress to this point. Not ecstatic, but satisfied.
Patrick, what the deal with Kwame. You herd anything new about his visit today?
OakFoSho
#4
Posted by john, March 1, 2008 5:07 PM
the raiders should draft manningham or jackson in the 2nd round. chris mcfoy could become a valuable target for russell as well. berrian is too old and not on the upside of his carreer. stallworth is nothing without another top notch guy next to him. i do like hackett, maybe cheap and he might feel like he is a true #1 on the squad, but i cant have another year as curry as the go to guy he is ok but he has the drops at bad times and is never open unless its a misdirection or spy play. get hacket and manningham
#5
Posted by OregonRaider, March 1, 2008 5:09 PM
I was hoping we would get a shot at Berrian or Stallworth, but guess not, lets move on. I say we trade down a couple of picks getting a 3rd round pick. With the first pick lets get Golston from OhioState. 2nd round we should get T. Laws from NorteDame. 3rd pick reciever. 4th-7th (one more reciever and couple o-linemen. Resolve and stabalize coaching issue... Playoffs here we come!
#6
Posted by Patrick Patterson, March 1, 2008 5:13 PM
FoSho,
I haven't heard anything more about Kwame Harris yet. As soon as I hear anything worth reporting, it will be posted.
#7
Posted by LDizzle, March 1, 2008 5:18 PM
John stop...Just stop. Berrian is too old? So four years in the league and 27 is too old now? In that case my nephew is pretty good and he is a freshman in Highschool. Maybe the Raiders should scout him? It isn't exactly considered research to realize that Berrian has been in the league a whole 4 years. DJ Hackett has been in the league 3 years so we may only be able to get one season out of him before he is too old so we better steer clear of him as well.
#8
Posted by J. Rasmussen, March 1, 2008 5:40 PM
Very disapointing to say the least. Guess Berrian hates his family. JK, Anyway, Hackett is a good WCO receiver but definatly not the burner we need. Walker and Johnson are ok options too.
#9
Posted by LDizzle, March 1, 2008 5:49 PM
I just heard Jason Taylor was cut by the Dolphins. He immediately tops my wishlist. Burgess on one side and Taylor on the other? Gives me goose bumps.
#10
Posted by OregonRaider, March 1, 2008 5:50 PM
Dexter Jackson will be available in the 4th or maybe even the 5th round. This guy might be a great pickup in later rounds; has potential to be a deep threat-slot reciever. If you havent seen this guys highlights on youtube, then you should.
If we really want to pick up a receiver in the 2nd round, i think we should take a long hard look at lavelle hawkins from califronia of sweed isn't avaivable. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/lavelle-hawkins?id=248
#11
Posted by DevDuck, March 1, 2008 6:00 PM
In reviewing the remaining FA options at wide receiver, I must admit to being underwhelmed.
The Raiders will probably focus on drafting a WR in the 2nd round of this years draft, although I remain hopeful that they reserve that pick for OG Branden Albert, who in my view is ideal for Coach Cable's zone blocking scheme, and someone who could be a fixture on any team's OL for a decade. Albert can (and probably will) play tackle in the NFL.
Here's hoping he winds up in Silver and Black.
#12
Posted by eks, March 1, 2008 8:46 PM
i hope jordy nelson finds his way to oakland in this draft. Tough kid. I have repeated this request many times and apologies if I annoyed anyone :) He definitely can be a productive 2 receiver.
Nobody talks about him and I think he's a steal. Ok, i will shut up.
#13
Posted by Pat, March 1, 2008 8:48 PM
I dont think it would be a good idea 2 go 4 a guy lik J. Walker or J. Taylor Walker has knee problems and Taylor is 2 old and we're a rebuilding team right now... Kwame Harris would be a great underrated pick up 4 coach Cable's zone blocking scheme... jus lik Gibril Wilson has been one of the better picks the raiders have made in a while.. im dissappointed we didn't trade 4 Marcus Stroud that would've been awesome
#14
Posted by Pat, March 1, 2008 8:50 PM
also whats this rumor ive been hearing were gonna trade Michael Huff... give him at least one more year... now put him at free safety and put G. Wilson at Strong safety... but if we do trade him we could trade down and go 4 someone lik Kenny Phillips 4rm the U. Miami...
#15
Posted by Anthony, March 1, 2008 10:10 PM
Fantastic -- someone else sees the same future for Branden Albert that I do. I still say if he's on the board at 2, the Raiders must take him.
I'm intrigued by either Hackett or Walker, provided both contracts are based on low salaries and higher incentives, but who knows what conversations Al and Jerry Jones are having; the oft-rumored trade (which will probably not happen, but if we're just spitballing...) would let the Raiders pretty well have the pick of the litter at 22, or possibly fewer options at 28.
#16
Posted by LDizzle, March 1, 2008 10:16 PM
Pat I don't know who your souces are but if you believe the Raiders are going to trade Michael Huff then I have some lake front property in Southern Louisiana to sell you. The Raiders got Gibril Wilson for the sole reason of moving Huff to his natural position of Free Safety. I have heard they are shopping Fabian Washington though. Stanford Routt has surpassed him and AD probably wants to move into the mid to lower part of the 1st round to get his hands on probably DeSean Jackson if I had to guess.
#17
Posted by OakFoSho, March 1, 2008 11:24 PM
First, The Trade Huff rumor was starte on NFL Live by Todd McShay right after the signing of Gibril broke. The logic being Huff plays SS for the Raiders. But what Todd McShay doesn't realize, cause he does no research and loves to rumor monger, is that Huff is a better FS and thus isn't going anywhere.
Oregon Raider, Lavell Hawkins seems overrated. Keep in mind he played across from DeSaun Jackson. I think that he will be a decent pro, but not really what the Raider are looking for. I mean we already have a good compliment guy in Curry, now we need a #1, and he just doesn't fit the mold.
LDizzle, agreed on Huff, and where did you read that Fabian rumor, cause that is interesting. I think that the Raiders have three home grown DBs, and I can't imagine Al giving away that much speed/talent at the position Al covets the most. Keep in mind it took Nnamdi 3-4 years to break through, though he was out of position for a little while. I hope this rumor proves to be another shot in the dark by some imaginative sportswriter at ESPN.
OakFoSho
#18
Posted by LDizzle, March 2, 2008 12:27 AM
It was apparently a sports talk show host on Sirius Sattelite radio. A friend of mine who lives on the East Coast was listening and they "broke" the story. I agree though that Raider rumors are usually complete shots in the dark for reporters and analysts trying to be the one that reported it first when none of them really have any clue what the AD is going to do. That whole "shroud of secrecy" thing. Rumors can be fun if they make any sense at all. Huff being moved doesn't but Fabian could if they could get a good deal from another team like perhaps one of the Cowboys top picks and MB3 for him (just and example of a good trade).
#20
Posted by ch, March 4, 2008 4:52 PM
I loved Cliff Branch. But I watched him drop too many passes to say he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
He had the speed and the team had the O-line to give him all that time. But he didn't have amazing hands.
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