Raiders Depth: CB mostly set, LB still very up in the air

Written by Asher Mathews on .

See our updated Depth Chart projections with guesses on where players will fall at this time.

The Raiders went into 2012 free agency with almost no bodies at CB position and came out with a number of players that will be able to vie for the starting CB spots.

The CB position will be one of the, if not the, most changed positions from last season.  There are only 3 players that are returning from last year: 2nd year players Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke and RFA Bryann McCann who was tendered as a restricted free agent.

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Raiders should know their additional picks this week

Written by Asher Mathews on .

The annual NFL owner's meeting starts tomorrow, Monday March 25th and runs through Thurs March 28th.  The Owners meeting is where the league finalizes the annual 32 compensatory picks and announces them to the teams.

The Raiders are widely expected to get fairly good compensatory picks based on losing elite CB Nnamdi Asomougha and other free agents last year.  The maximum picks that can be awarded a team is 4.  It seems unlikely the Raiders will get that many.

TFDS' guess is that the Raiders will get 3 compensatory picks - the first one in the third round, a 5th round and a 7th round pick.  The compensatory picks come in at the end of the round.  Most awarded will be at the end of th 7th round.

Normally the first pick available is the 97th pick but if the Raiders get the first possible pick this year, it would be 95th overall because the Raiders' 3rd round pick is gone with the selection of Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft and the Saints' 2nd round pick was revoked as part of the punishment for the bounties.

For news, analysis or to ask questions about the Raiders throughout the day, follow me on Twitter @AsherMathews

Free Agent CB Tracy Porter signs with Broncos

Written by Asher Mathews on .

One of the players many Raiders fans wanted on the team, CB Tracy Porter, signed a one year deal with the Denver Broncos.  The financial details will certainly leak later, but were have not been disclosed at this time.

The Raiders were scheduled to meet with him but signed Shawntae Spencer and then Pat Lee to one year deals instead and postponed that meeting.  The Titans were also interested in Porter's services but did not come to terms with Porter before he left and visited Denver.

Denver appears to be gearing up to win immediately, as much as possible.

McKenzie clears up some questions with quick interview

Written by Asher Mathews on .

Reggie_McKenzieRaiders GM Reggie McKenzie granted a quick interview with Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times after Stanford's pro day.  You can see a transcript of the interview here.

He addressed a number of different issues in the interview.  I encourage you to check it out, it's an interesting read.  But we will sum up the conversation as well.

First, McKenzie confirmed that second year player Stefen Wisniewski will indeed be moving to Center.  The only reason that wouldn't occur is if they find themselves in a position where they can get another Center that is so good they can't pass him up.  That could happen in the draft or if there is an unexpected cut at a later date.

Michael Bush signs with Bears

Written by Asher Mathews on .

The continual question of whether Michael Bush may come back to the Raiders was answered today when Bush signed a 4 year, $14 million contract with the Chicago Bears.

Bush was vocal about wanting to go to a team where he could be a starter but he found that the market for older running backs is fairly low.  In the end he signed a contract that was worth $7 million guaranteed and up to $3.5 million a season.

The Raiders weren't going to spend the amount of money the Bears put out and therefore even if Bush were inclined to come back to the team that drafted him in the 4th round, they weren't likely to pay him anything close to what he was looking for.

The Raiders are likely to find a replacement backup running back in the draft or by signing an undrafted free agent.

An historic day in the NFL (and other notes)

Written by Asher Mathews on .

Saints Punishment, Raiders fallout

Most of you will already be aware of the historic punishment that Commissioner Roger Goodell handed to the New Orleans Saints in response to the unfolding bounty scandal that has been the talk of the football world.

If you're not aware of it, you can read more here.

Peyton is a mile high, now where do the Raiders stand?

Written by AJ DeMello, Contributor on .


Peyton Manning is now the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos.

It looks like 'Tebow Time' in Denver will now be referred to as the time spent remodeling your crucifix. That Peyton Manning would make the God-awful decision to choose the Broncos over the Niners or the Titans, he must be (mile) high.

The Denver Broncos may as well just burn last year's game tape, because it's probably not going to help Peyton Manning play quarterback. John Elway and John Fox have decided to end the era of flimsy balling, and claim that they're Peyton's calling.