Raiders signing Jordy Nelson, releasing Crabtree
Oakland also signs running back Doug Martin
The Raiders’ first big signing in free agency came Thursday with the addition of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, per multiple reports. The first to note the official deal was actually James Jones, Nelson’s former teammate in Green Bay and a former Raiders receiver.
As a result of Nelson’s signing, Oakland will release Michael Crabtree, per ESPN. Crabtree was set to make over $7.7 million in base salary and bonuses in 2018. His release comes with no dead money against the cap. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has singled out several players as ones that enticed him to take this job, and Crabtree was one of them. Even so, Oakland is siding with Nelson, who turns 33 in May and is coming off a down season, over the 30-year-old Crabtree.
Nelson has played for Green Bay since entering the league in 2008, amassing 550 catches, 7,848 yards, 14.3 yards per catch and 69 touchdowns since then. Edgar Bennett, who coached Packers wide receivers from 2011-14 and served as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2015-17, is now the Raiders’ wide receivers coach. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie worked in the Packers’ front office in 2008 when the team drafted
Nelson 36th overall in the second round. And for whatever it’s worth as Nelson joins the Raiders, he’s played with one of Derek Carr’s closest friends in the league since 2014, wide receiver Davante Adams, Carr’s top receiver in college.
Nelson missed the 2015 season with a right knee injury but returned in 2016 with 97 catches (his second-most in a single season), 1,257 yards (fourth-most) and 14 touchdowns (second-most but ). In 2017, though, Nelson only caught 53 passes for 482 yards and six touchdowns while quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed nine games due to injury.
With Nelson’s addition and Crabtree’s subtraction, that leaves the Raiders with a top three of Amari Cooper, Nelson and Seth Roberts. Crabtree
had significantly fewer catches and receiving yards in 2017 than each of his first two seasons in Oakland, grabbing 58 balls for 618 yards and eight touchdowns. There have been reports in the past several weeks that Crabtree would play for the Raiders in 2018 and also reports that Oakland didn’t know if it wanted to pay Crabtree what he was due to make.
Crabtree was in the Raiders’ plans, but clearly those plans changed when one of the league’s most decorated receivers became available, even if he is getting up there in age.
Raiders agree with RB Doug Martin
The Raiders on Thursday reportedly agreed to terms with running back Doug Martin and were connected with at least three defensive free agents — including one that opted to stay with his original
team.
Martin, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will join the Raiders, according to NFL Media.
Martin, released by the Bucs, met with coach Jon Gruden last week. Martin has twice gained more than 1,400 yards rushing in a season but in each of the last two years has struggled. Born in Oakland, Calif., Martin was a first-round pick out of Boise State and had a spectacular 1,454-yard season as a rookie in 2012. That included a 251yard explosion against the Raiders.
In 2015, Martin had 1,402 yards rushing for the Bucs. In the last two seasons, Martin has 406 and 421 yards rushing. In 2016, Martin served a fourgame suspension for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing drugs.
Marshawn Lynch was the Raiders starting running back last season and is due a $1 million roster bonus Friday. The Raiders reportedly signed fullback Keith Smith to a two-year, $4.2 million deal, per NFL Media. Gruden professed his love for fullbacks at the NFL combine, and Smith is now the second one on Oakland’s roster with Jamize Olawale already on board. Smith was moved from inside linebacker to fullback in in 2016 in a move to keep him on the roster.
Separate reports have the Raiders visiting with two starters — safety Marcus Gilchrist (Houston) and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (Detroit). Johnathan Joseph, a cornerback, told the Houston Chronicle his choice came down to Houston and the Raiders, but that he chose to remain with the Texans.
The Raiders had defensive issues last year during free agency as well, but signed only linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who didn’t make the club out of training camp.