With some of the monster trades and deals over the first couple of days of NFL Free Agency, it’s easy to miss what’s been happening in Oakland. The Raiders were in the playoff mix until the final month of the season and finished 7-9.
They’ve got the established offensive weapons coming back with quarterback Derek Carr, running back Latavius Murray, tight ends Mychal Rivera and Clive Walford and wideouts Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. What they need is more help on the defense and offensive line and they’ve already done good work, singing Kelechi Osemele at guard, Sean Smith at cornerback and Bruce Irvin at outside linebacker.
We have signed linebacker @BIrvin_WVU11.
Read: https://t.co/OKHM2oXyBh pic.twitter.com/6Qk7glEm9N
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 11, 2016
The Raiders are still sitting with over $34 million in salary cap space left to spend, so there’s no reason to think they’re done. But what they’ve accomplished, added to the moves they made last season in the draft and free agency, have already made them a significantly better team. Oakland still needs a tackle and a couple of safeties and they’ll be able to address some of that in the draft.
Dolphins lock in a couple of their own
After taking two big contracts in trading for linebacker Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell, Miami hasn’t stopped, re-signing a couple of its own players Tuesday in linebacker James-Michael Johnson and guard Jacques McClendon to go along with Williams and newly acquired safety Isa Abdul-Quiddus from the Detroit Lions.
The moves have helped the Dolphins with their salary cap woes too as they now have a comfortable $26.9 million to spend.
Broncos sweating hard
The biggest news of the day seems to be the outright panic the Denver Broncos are in to secure a quarterback. It’s gotten so bad they’ve talked to the San Francisco 49ers about trading for Colin Kaepernick. Reportedly the cost for Kaepernick’s services could be a second round pick and if San Francisco can pull that off, Chip Kelly needs to star in the next Ocean’s 11 movie.
"I think it would be a perfect setup there in Denver."
– @RealMikeRob on Kaepernick possibly going to Denver pic.twitter.com/h4TqPEQEfK
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) March 11, 2016
The rumors of a Kaepernick trade have been stirring around all day, with not only the Broncos interested, but the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets working the phones for the loping lummox as well. The teams that are interested in Kaepernick aren’t teams he’s faced many times, if at all, and to me that’s probably why they’re interested. They’ve not gameplanned against him more than once so the deficiencies of his skillset are still a mystery to them.
No NFC team seems to be taking the bait.
People wondering why the Browns haven’t already cut Johnny Manziel can probably put two-and-two together with their 49ers contact. Maybe they’re trying to toss him in on the trade. If Kelly thinks he could work with Kaepernick, he probably wouldn’t be scared to give Manziel a go either so Cleveland could really be in this thing.
The Kaepernick calls from the Jets have worked against them with their own preferred quarterback, free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets have been trying to keep from paying him $16 million a year to come back, but now the Broncos are calling his agent. Could we witness a bidding war for Ryan Fitzpatrick? Is that where we are?
Jets involvement/interest in Colin Kaepernick best described as this at this point: NYJ believes he's headed to the Broncos.
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) March 10, 2016
It should be noted that of the three quarterbacks I’ve mentioned in this section, not a single one would play a snap on a team I ran. This is a pitiful and embarrassing situation for every single one of these teams.
Other moves
Speaking of Broncos, restricted free agent running back C.J. Anderson has signed an $18 million offer sheet with the Dolphins to replace Lamar Miller. The Broncos have five days to match the offer or lose another piece of their Super Bowl team.
. @cjandersonb22 is one of the smartest players I've ever met. Would be huge asset to help Dolphins learn and install Gase's offense.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 10, 2016
The Jets made one of the boldest moves of free agency late Monday night when they added former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte after losing Chris Ivory to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Forte is a steal in this free agent market at pretty much any price, but it’s interesting to see him pick the Jets as their offensive style doesn’t seem to fit him at all. But styles can change and they should because Forte can be a game-changing presence for the Jets.
Matt Forte and Khiry Robinson signings with Jets are now official #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) March 11, 2016
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