Watson, Hayden leave in free agency
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has his poker face going pretty well.
McKenzie didn’t make any moves on the second day of free agency, as he waits for the right prices for players he wants. And that could work as there’s been very little movement on the inside linebacker or running back markets, plus there are still good defensive tackles left.
But while McKenzie looked elsewhere, the Raiders lost two more players to free agency Friday, bringing the number to six. Right tackle Menelik Watson signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Broncos, and former first-round pick DJ Hayden is joining the Lions.
The Raiders tried to bring Watson back, but the price tag was too high. He was injury prone, missing 37 games the past four years (including all of 2015) with calf, knee, Achilles tendon and groin injuries. But he did beat out Austin Howard for the starting job last season, and line coach Mike Tice loved his toughness and footwork.
Hayden, Oakland’s slot corner last season, signed a oneyear, $5.25 million deal with the Lions. He missed 19 games over four seasons due to injury and started only two last season, during which he led the team with 12 penalties.
He probably was McKenzie’s biggest swing and miss as a general manager. Hayden was picked 12th overall in 2013 despite being in recovery from a heart procedure after he nearly died from an injury suffered during practice in college.
Saturday, the Raiders will have their first free agent visit when they roll out the red carpet at the team facility for speedy receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson. The former Viking is second only to Gale Sayers in NFL history with a kickoff-return average of 30.4 yards.
Patterson, 26 years old next week, had a career-high 52 catches last season, but the Vikings didn’t pick up his $7.9 million 2017 contract option.
On Thursday, defensive tackle Stacy McGee left the Raiders for Washington, and special teamers Daren Bates and Brynden Trawick signed with the Titans. On Wednesday, the first day of free agency, leading tackler Malcolm Smith went to the 49ers.