Tight end Smith signs new deal, source says
Offensive line additions designed to spark run game
OAKLAND, Calif. — Move by move, the Raiders are shaping their roster as coach Jon Gruden envisions it.
That means two tight ends of similar fabric.
A day after Derek Carrier agreed to a contract, Raiders tight end Lee Smith agreed to one of his own, a source said Wednesday. The deal was finalized hours before Smith was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He has served as the Raiders’ top blocker at the position the past three years.
Financial terms were not immediately available.
Carrier, however, intends to sign a three-year contract worth $7 million, a source said. It includes $2.3 million guaranteed.
Smith and Carrier represent an attitude new coach Gruden looks to accentuate at the line of scrimmage. Already, the Raiders were considered fairly physical at the point of attack in the running game.
Still, he saw room for improvement, something the organization has worked toward this week with the release of right tackle Marshall Newhouse and now two additions at tight end.
Jared Cook, due a $5 million salary in 2018, remains the Raiders’ highest-paid player at the position. He is coming off wrist surgery this offseason, sources have said, an ailment through which he played for much of 2017. Clive Walford is the other top returner at the position.
At the NFL combine on Feb. 28, Gruden expressed that he wanted a blocking tight end and fullback on the 2018 roster.
“If Marshawn Lynch is the feature back, I think it’d be nice if we serviced him with a fullback,” Gruden said. “He had a guy (in Seattle) named (Michael) Robinson who’s with the NFL Network, who was a hell of a fullback. You need a blocking tight end if you’re going to slam the ball with a beast. So those are two things that I’m looking for.”
Exclusive deals
The Raiders had five exclusive-rights free agents who needed to be tendered before the Wednesday start of the 2018 league year, otherwise expose them to free agency. All were tendered, a source said. Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio, safety Erik Harris, defensive end James Cowser, linebacker Shilique Calhoun and guard-tackle Denver Kirkland are expected to sign their one-year deals.
The contracts are worth the veteran minimum. Tavecchio’s deal, for example, is for $555,000.
The Raiders had 10 unrestricted free agents (four years or more) in 2018. So far, cornerback TJ Carrie (Cleveland Browns) and defensive tackle Denico Autry (Indianapolis Colts) have moved on elsewhere. Linebacker Navorro Bowman, quarterback EJ Manuel, safety Reggie Nelson, safety Keith Mcgill II, long snapper Jon Condo and kicker Sebastian Janikowski are unsigned.
Notable
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson visited the team Wednesday. According to ESPN, he also plans to visit the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints.
Janikowski, 40, will visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, a source said.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.