Contingency Plans



The Free Agent Signing Period is only a few weeks away, and I'm sure the Raiders are already busy making their plans. For shits and giggles I thought I'd run through a few scenarios that we might see over March and April. (NOTE: All this assumes that the Raiders will succeed in re-signing WR Jerry Porter.)

Prospect #1:

Sign HB Sean Alexander and Jason Gildon LB/DE. 1st Round pick, Derrick Johnson OLB

Signing Alexander would cost the Raiders a fortune, probably knocking the Raiders out of contention for a free agent OLB star like Julian Peterson (Gildon may well be available, and he knows the 3-4 alignment as well as anyone in football. He'd provide the veteran leadership the Raiders need at the position). Still, signing a guy who missed the NFL rushing title would be a strong temptation, and we all know how much Al Davis loves speed.

Prospect #2

Sign HB LaMont Jordan, OLB Julian Peterson, and CB Aaron Beasley. 1st Round Pick, Derrick Johnson, OLB

Jordan and Beasley should be signable without huge money (provided we offer Jordan the chance to start), and Beasley should be an adequate replacement for Charles Woodson. Peterson is a potential superstar who would give us the kind of edge rush we will desperately need next year. (Tyler Brayton is a fine DE, but a poor LB.) Line Johnson opposite Julian Peterson in the 3-4, with Clark and Harris in the middle, and the weakest linebacking corps in the NFL suddenly becomes one of the strongest.

Prospect #3

Trade 2nd or 3rd round pick for HB Travis Henry, OLB Julian Peterson, CB Aaron Beasley. 1st Round Pick, Derrick Johnson, OLB

Same as above. Travis Henry has some injury concerns, which is why the Raiders should give up the moon and the stars for him. But after walking away from Corey Dillon, I think we want to have a back as dangerous as Mr. Henry.

Prospect #4 Same except that 1st Round Pick is Antrel Rolle, CB

Someone else has picked Derrick Johnson. We can probably wait to grab Jason Gildon, and pick up Antrel Rolle in the first round. He's an excellent corner who might get Woodson and Philip Buchanon to behave, lest they lose their jobs. Why not a quarterback? With Leinart out of the picture I don't think that there's another QB out there worth a #7 overall pick. The Raiders could, of course, trade down and grab Andrew Walter plus a linebacker in Round 1. The Raiders have, however, had problems with first round quarterback picks in years past. All of their greats--Lamonica, Stabler, Plunkett, Hostetler, and Gannon, came to the Raiders from free agency or trades. We all remember Marc Wilson and Todd Marinovich. (San Diego, quit your bitching about Ryan Leaf.)

Prospect #5, Raiders take free agents Beasley, Peterson and Gildon. 1st Round Pick is Cadillac Williams, Cedric Benson, or Ronnie Brown.

I see Cadillac Williams as the player Al Davis covets most. Why? Speed. His smooth running style will remind him of another Raider great, Marcus Allen. And Auburn has been very good to the Raiders--ah, the age of Bo. And remember, it isn't what Turner wants, but what Davis wants that counts. Turner will want what Davis tells him to. Still, Williams may be off the board before the Raiders can grab him, forcing them to take plans B or C (Benson or Brown). I don't think such a choice would make the Raiders suffer at all.

Other possible signings:

DE Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Kavika Pittman
OT Barrett Brooks, Marco Rivera
QB Kelly Holcomb (for 3rd or 2nd string)
S Izell Reese
LB Jeremiah Trotter, Jesse Armstead

Posted: Sun - January 16, 2005 at 09:27 PM        

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