The Raiders just signed another player, so there has to be a joke about knee surgery, right?
New WR Drew Carter did have a torn ACL back in 2004 and has battled injuries at times in Carolina. But signing him isn’t a bad decision by the Raiders.
He has good size (6-3, 200) and reportedly has good speed. And at a position the Raiders neglected to upgrade last season, the Raiders have gone out and added two players with Javon Walker being the other.
A three-receiver setoff a healthy Walker, Carter and Ronald Curry would be more impressive than last season’s incarnations of a three-wide set.
Because teams will have to respect Carter’s speed, his presence should keep safeties honest and help the running game.
The Raiders needed to focus on getting JaMarcus Russell talent to help out. There’s no way of knowing how these moves will turn out, but I credit the Raiders with being aggressive.
Some of the salary numbers are a high, but no one was taking a pay cut to come to Oakland.
If these moves work, how much was paid will be a moot point.
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I don’t think the Raiders are done in free agency. Adding Quinn Gray as a backup quarterback makes sense as does adding a veteran defensive end.
I’m still all in favor of the Raiders drafting Vernon Gholston. But reports out of Florida have veteran DE Kevin Carter making a visit to Oakland.
Carter would be a nice addition until Gholston is ready to take over full time. I just don’t think that would be too long.
The combination of Derrick Burgess, Jay Richardson, Gholston and another DE would give the Raiders depth and mean Tommy Kelly could focus on playing defensive tackle.
--Jason Jones
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