Free-agent receiver Nelson reportedly to visit Raiders first
The Green Bay Packers cut wideout Jordy Nelson on Tuesday, and the Raiders will be his first visit as he searches for a new NFL home, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Michael Gehlken.
Nelson had been with the Packers since entering the league in 2008. New Raiders wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett served in the same position for Green Bay from 2011-14 before his promotion to offensive coordinator from 2015-17. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie worked for the Packers’ front office when Nelson entered the league a decade ago.
In other words, Nelson has familiarity when it comes to the Bay Area team that has been quiet thus far before free agency officially kicks off Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The Raiders are expected to sign tight end Derek Carrier, a source told this newspaper. Carrier began his career in Oakland in 2012 as an undrafted free- agent wide receiver but didn’t make the 53-man roster. That was McKenzie’s first year as general manager, and Carrier went on to play for the 49ers, Washington and the Rams. He has been coached by Jay Gruden, Jon’s younger brother, and Sean McVay, who’s patterned much of his offense and way of operating after Jon.
Carrier has played in 45 career games, catching 36 passes for 327 yards and one touchdown. He caught eight passes for 71 yards with the Rams last season.
In his career, Nelson has 550 catches for 7,848 yards and 69 touchdowns. His production took a dip last
season, though, and his numbers (catches, yards, touchdowns) went from 85, 1,314 and eight in 2013 to 98, 1,519 and 13 in 2014 to 97, 1,257 and 14 in 2016 — Nelson missed 2015 with a right knee injury. In 2017, Nelson caught only 53 passes for 482 yards and six touchdowns while quarterback Aaron Rodgers played only seven games because of injury.
Other notable tidbits from the Raiders this week:
• Cut RT Marshall Newhouse and CB Sean Smith
• Signed WR/ KR/ PR Griff Whalen
• Re-signed DT Justin Ellis to three-year contract
• Trumaine Johnson, the top cornerback on the market, will sign with the Jets, and he’ll hardly go for cheap. According to NFL Network, Johnson will make around $15 million per year, though it’s unknown how long the deal is.
Given that price, it’s possible
the Raiders were never truly in the running for the 28-year- old with 18 career interceptions.
Oakland still has a glaring need at cornerback, left with only Gareon Conley as a projected starter. after releasing both David Amerson and Sean Smith. Dexter McDonald and Antonio Hamilton are the other two cornerbacks under contract, and TJ Carrie has interest from the Broncos, according to CBS Sports.