Three weeks until free agency, which of their own free agents will the Raiders keep?

Thoughts from the Dark Side

February 8, 2008

Three weeks until free agency, which of their own free agents will the Raiders keep?

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There are about three weeks left until the start of the free agent signing period. This gives the Raiders about three weeks to decide what they are doing with their own free agents, and that will set the table for the type of players they will target once the free agent signing period starts. Nnamdi Asomugha, Justin Fargas, Jarrod Cooper, Chris Clemons, and Jerry Porter among others are free agents. Lane Kiffin and Al Davis will have to work out a plan as to who they are going to keep, because right now the Raiders can resign their own guys before anyone else gets a chance to.

The first order of business is to decide which of their own guys the Raiders are going to keep. Last month, I went over the Raiders free agent list and speculated on who would go and who would stay. Without reinventing the wheel, here are a list of those whom I see critical to be resigned.

Nnamdi Asomugha- It goes without saying that there is no way the Raiders can let Aso go without a fight. Aso has established himself as one of the top corners in the league. The Raiders will likely use the franchise tag on him to insure that they don't have competition as they work out a long term deal.

Justin Fargas- I don't expect Fargas to get any break the bank type offers considering his injury history. The Raiders should be able to lock down their best running back for a reasonable multi year deal.

Tommy Kelly- Kelly is coming off of a knee injury which will drive his value down. The Raiders would be wise to try to lock him down to a reasonable contract now, rather than wait. Kelly was the Raiders most consistent defensive lineman versus the run last season before his injury.

Jarrod Cooper-The Raiders need Coop's attitude and work ethic on special teams. He was the lynchpin of the special teams squad that blanked Devin Hester.

Those are the unrestricted free agents the Raiders should keep. Just in case you are wondering, I did not forget to mention Porter, the Raiders should let him walk.

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

11 Comments on "Three weeks until free agency, which of their own free agents will the Raiders keep?"

Posted by Dan, February 8, 2008 12:20 AM

Fargas needs to be gone(system runner). Madsen is a interesting item. If he can learn how to block better we may end up with two of the better TE's in football. He has good hands and is fast, and put on adequite size over the offseason. CB is the biggest thing that needs to happen and the special teamers(they did well)

Posted by Anthony, February 8, 2008 9:17 AM

If they can get a sign-and-trade for Porter, then they should get that done. Get something for that useless loser.

Agreed on the four you list here, though Fargas is total trade-bait if McFadden drops to the Raiders and they can't trade out of the pick (or McFadden himself, later in the day). Either way, if McFadden ends up a Raider, two HBs have to go -- Jordan has to be the first on that list, but does Fargas or Rhodes follow? (Actually, when I phrase it that way, it may be Rhodes who gets out.)

Condo, Ike, Alston and Brown should all be resigned. Eugene is an RFA who won't command much interest, I don't think; they can keep him as is and maybe try to get a longer, cheaper deal than if he progresses this season.

McFoy . . . I wonder whether they'll bring him back.

As far as Madsen, probably doesn't hurt to have a backup TE, since Russell seemed to be pretty comfortable throwing to Miller in his limited time, and since Kiffin* wants to gradually open the playbook as he is gradually able to add playmakers.

* This, of course, assumes no coaching change of note.

Posted by josh, February 8, 2008 1:11 PM

Dan:

If Fargas is a system runner, and we plan on staying with that system, why would we drop him? I'm not a fan of signing him to a monster deal, but if we can get him for mid-market money, why not?

Other than that, agreed about resigning Nnamdi, Jarrod, Isaiah.

Posted by rodmoney, February 10, 2008 10:47 AM

What he's saying josh is that anyone can be placed in our backfield and be productive, ie Jordan(when he was healthy, Rhodes who is a better receiver than Fargas) so we would be fine if Fargas walked for their are late rd and undrafted FA's just as good if not better than Justin in April. I hear that Brayton just voided his final yr and is now a unrestricted FA. I know we won't resign him but will we be able to get any compensation for him?

Posted by mikeinny, February 11, 2008 7:37 AM

you;ll all be sorry if brayton goes! he is more valauble then anyone we have!

he is great vs run! and will be a pass rusher if he was just allowed to play!

he is to heavy @280 to play @wde & be a pass rusher like ryan did to him in 2006 ,

but our run def on left side was allowing just 1 yard vs run left! in 06.

in 07 it was the leagues worst , @5.7 left ! due to tyler not being there! just ask howard&sapp! theyll tell you!

tyler is our best option IN 2008 @ #1 SDE,

#2 WDT.

SO HE IS A EVERYDOWNLIMEN that is strong vs run @ either spot! HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT

also bring him in on nicks/dimes as insIDE pass rusher! who else can you find out ther this USABLE!!

Posted by dan, February 11, 2008 10:27 AM

Thank you rodmoney. I should've better clearified myself. Fargas got more chances than just this and didn't show anything special. Since it's the system why not try to find a diamond in the rough like Denver did in TD. If you don't, you really don't lose anything and Rhodes is still there. With Sapp gone we need Warren and signing someone who doesn't want to be there(Brayton) is not a good idea. If those numbers truely are because of Brayton, he may not be a bust somewhere else. I really hope that Micheal Bush is our future simply because he has talent, and because of the fourth round won't effect the cap like say Mcfadden.

Posted by mikeinny, February 11, 2008 1:14 PM

the guy to get is jeff faine center form saints!

if they are dumb enuff to let him leave!

he is a great young center, he solidfies line for years! unless knapp&cable think GROVE is the answer long term! groves problem seems to be power! i saw drive ted washington off ball last year & after that he didnt show it rest of year!! maybe washignton aint that good! but he still is 370lbs!

so who knows!! but you guysare wrong on BRAYTON, he is the answer @ SDE vs run @ insdie passrusher on nicks/dimes!!6-6-290 lb& fast w-motor!

Posted by P.A.T, February 12, 2008 8:06 AM

You had to Circle the wagon and protect Our QB. We Need to put off on the board.u Had ellis from USC. thier going to be more d-Line out in the draft.If Mcfadden fall to us from the grace of god we take from and make room. we still had bush.

Posted by raiderhev, February 12, 2008 11:17 AM

We need to try and get DT dorsey we stop the run we kill the qb with the pass russ that's where it all starts defense run the ball on offense set up the play action Ball game go Raiders!!!!

#10

Posted by RaiderFan Chief "P", February 12, 2008 6:29 PM

I agree I think we pick up dorsey in the draft and let brayton go. But what about free agents. We still need depth at this position. Which is why agree (against my instincts) to let fargas go Porter let him go. Keep Aso and Coop. We need to draft smart and get what we can for those who need to go.

#11

Posted by RaiderFan Chief "P", February 12, 2008 6:31 PM

I think we leave Mc fadden alone. Or we completely scuttle our running back position and just keep bush.