Raiders Sign LS Andrew DePaola
Former Bears long snapper Andrew DePaola signed with the Raiders, agent Sean Stellato tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year deal worth $4.27MM with $875K guaranteed. 
DePaola, 31 in July, spent three seasons with the Buccaneers before hooking on with the Bears last season. The signing leaves the Bears without a long snapper for the moment, but Patrick Scales, who was non-tendered, could be brought back to fill that hole.
DePaola’s deal is uncharacteristically high for a long snapper, but coach Jon Gruden isn’t afraid to go against the grain. Gruden has vowed to “‘throw the game back to 1998” and he took a step in that direction this week by signing fullback Keith Smith to a two-year, $4.2MM deal.
Raiders To Host CB Rashaan Melvin
The Raiders will host free agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin on Friday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Both Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal have reported that Oakland has had conversations with Melvin.
Melvin, a 2013 undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois, spent the past two seasons with the Colts, where he’s had a pair of solid campaigns. Following a breakout season in 2016, Melvin was just as productive this year, finishing with 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended. Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 17th among 120 eligible cornerbacks. PFR ranked Melvin as the No. 12 free agent cornerback.
The Raiders could certainly use some reinforcement at cornerback, as the club is currently projected to start 2017 first- rounder Gareon Conley and former seventh-rounder Dexter McDonald. Oakland also has Darius Hillary, Antonio Mitchel, and Shaquille Richardson on their CB depth chart.
Oakland isn’t the only team eyeing Melvin, as the Packers also reportedly have interest in the 28-year-old.
Raiders Sign LB Tahir Whitehead
The Raiders have signed free agent linebacker Tahir Whitehead, the club announced tonight. It’s a three-year deal worth more than $6MM annually, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link).
Oakland has been on the lookout for linebackers for several seasons, and last year acquired veteran NaVorro Bowman from the 49ers. Although the Raiders still had interest in re-signing Bowman as of earlier this week, it’s possible the club’s addition of Whitehead will end Bowman’s tenure. However, Bowman plays on the inside while Whitehead is best at outside ‘backer, so there is certainly room for both in the Bay Area.
Whitehead was drafted by the Lions as a fifth-rounder in 2012, but he didn’t become a fixture on the club’s defense until 2014. Since that time, he’s started 55 games and racked up 283 tackles. Whitehead, 27, has hit the open market before, but ended up re-signing with the Lions on a two-year deal.
Whitehead, whom PFR ranked as the No. 8 available linebacker entering free agency, would line up alongside Oakland linebackers Bruce Irvin and Marquel Lee if the season began today, but it’s possible the Raiders will make further second-level additions.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) first reported Whitehead was nearing a deal with Oakland. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Raiders To Sign Marcus Gilchrist
The Raiders have agreed to sign free agent safety Marcus Gilchrist to a one-year deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Reggie Nelson‘s contract expired after last season, the second of a two-year deal, and Oakland has a need on its back line alongside Karl Joseph. The Raiders were targeting secondary help this offseason but have yet to bolster that unit with an addition. They lost slot corner T.J. Carrie to the Browns on Wednesday.
Pro Football Focus graded Gilchrist, 29, as a middle-of-the-road safety last season, when he was with the Texans. Despite some big expenses over the past few years, the Raiders have continued to struggle in coverage. They’re now set to have three new starters in their secondary.
While Oakland has spent much of its offseason resources on offensive additions such as Jordy Nelson, Doug Martin, and Derek Carrier, the club also re-signed defensive tackle Justin Ellis and is nearing a deal with linebacker Tahir Whitehad.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Tank Carradine To Visit Seahawks
Defensive lineman Tank Carradine is visiting with the Raiders, but Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee says the free agent has a backup plan if he doesn’t sign. Barrows reports (via Twitter) that Carradine has a visit scheduled with the Seahawks “if necessary.”
We learned earlier today that the former 49ers defensive end had a meeting scheduled with the Raiders. The 2013 second-round pick had been relatively underwhelming during his San Francisco tenure, and he also missed half of the 2017 season. He ultimately started seven of his eight games last year, compiling 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His production would have placed him among Pro Football Focus’ top 50 edge defenders if he had enough snaps to qualify.
The Seahawks are a bit crowded at defensive end, and the team is currently projected to start Cliff Avril and Frank Clark. However, along with Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson (and others), the 29-year-old Carradine would certainly provide Seattle with some insurance at the position.
Raiders To Meet With DE Tank Carradine
The Raiders are hosting 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine on a visit, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Carradine, 29, was a second round pick of the Niners in 2013. He hasn’t quite lived up to his potential and he is coming off of a season in which he missed half of the team’s games. He did start in seven of his eight contests in 2017, however. He tallied 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks and would have placed among Pro Football Focus’ top 50 edge defenders if he had enough snaps to qualify.
The Raiders are keeping busy today as they are also meeting with free safety Marcus Gilchrist. On the other side of the ball, they have released Michael Crabtree in order to sign fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
Raiders Sign WR Jordy Nelson
The Raiders have signed wide receiver Jordy Nelson, as first reported by his former teammate James Jones (on Twitter). It’s a two-year, $15MM deal with $13MM guaranteed. The news has been confirmed by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
Nelson was a cap casualty of the Packers, but several teams were eager to bring him into the fold. The Raiders beat out the Seahawks and Saints, who were also making a strong push for him.
The Raiders released Michael Crabtree on Thursday in order to make room for Nelson. At this stage of their careers, not everyone would prefer Nelson to Crabtree, although the Raiders’ new head coach obviously does. Nelson is coming off of his worst season, statistically speaking, since 2012. He caught 53 passes for 482 yards and six touchdowns. Crabtree, meanwhile, had his worst season as a Raider, though he had 58 grabs for 618 yards and eight TDs.
Nelson now slots in as the Raiders’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Amari Cooper, as shown on Roster Resource. Seth Roberts and Cordarrelle Patterson are also on the depth chart. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Raiders continue to explore the wide receiver market for depth, though there will also be options in the draft.
This will be a chance for Nelson to bounce back. Although he was only selected to one Pro Bowl (in 2014) during his run as Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target, Nelson became the Packers’ second-leading receiver scorer. Only Don Hutson caught more touchdowns as a Packer than Nelson’s 69. He has four 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, with the most recent coming in 2016 despite having suffered an ACL tear in 2015.
The former second-round pick and Super Bowl hero caught 97 passes for 1,257 yards and 14 TDs during his last full season with Rodgers, and the Raiders are clearly banking he can return to close to that level with this signing.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Raiders Release WR Michael Crabtree
The Raiders are releasing wide receiver Michael Crabtree, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). With Crabtree out of the picture, a source tells Schefter that there is a “high probability” of wide receiver Jordy Nelson landing in Oakland (UPDATE: Nelson has signed with the Raiders).
There have been whispers of Crabtree’s exit from Oakland for several months. At one point, Jon Gruden seemed to indicate that Crabtree would be back with the team in 2018. Such talk, apparently, was premature. The Raiders will move on from Crabtree’s $7MM salary and are likely to fill that void with Nelson.
Last season, Crabtree posted his worst season as a Raider, managing only 58 reception and 618 yards in 14 games. In January, his $7MM salary seemed a bit rich given his down year, but it’s not so crazy when compared to some of the free agent deals signed by other receivers this year.
Take Marqise Lee‘s new contract with the Jaguars, for example. He can earn a maximum of $38MM over the course of his four-year contract. Even if his “true” average annual value falls short of $9.5MM, it’s still a good indicator of what Crabtree can expect to get in free agency. On the other hand, many of this year’s wide receiver voids have already been filled.
Extra Points: Seahawks, Nelson, Browns
The Raiders are in the mix to sign Jordy Nelson, but it’s not a done deal just yet. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) cautions not to count out the Seahawks in the Nelson chase, given John Schneider‘s history with the wide receiver.
In 2008, the Packers traded back with the Jets in the second round in order to select Nelson. Schneider was a big reason for that deal as he advocated for Nelson in the war room. Now, Schneider is at the helm in Seattle with a very real chance at signing the veteran.
The Saints, reportedly, are also pushing to sign Nelson.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Browns GM John Dorsey said he released cornerback Jason McCourty because he wasn’t sure he’d make the roster and, given his veteran status, wanted to give him a chance to catch on with another team (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon). McCourty had a solid bounce back year with the Browns, so it’s surprising to hear that Dorsey wasn’t sure if McCourty would quality for the 53-man roster. In any event, he figures to have a ripe market.
- Meanwhile, Browns coach Hue Jackson confirmed that Tyrod Taylor is the Browns starting quarterback for 2018. “He’s going to be the starting quarterback. There is no competition,” Jackson said (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer). The Browns hold the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks in this year’s draft and one of those selections will almost certainly be used on a QB. Whoever that rookie is, apparently, will be learning from the bench at the outset.
- The Raiders were a close second for Johnathan Joseph before he agreed to re-sign with the Texans, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Joseph re-upped with Houston on Thursday with a two-year deal.
- The Eagles and Giants are showing interest in Bears free agent punter Pat O’Donnell, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Raiders To Sign FB Keith Smith
Jon Gruden vowed to restore the importance of the fullback position and he took a major step towards that endeavor on Thursday. The Raiders and fullback Keith Smith have agreed to terms on a two-year worth $4.2MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Smith, 26 in April, was non-tendered by the Cowboys this week. He quickly drew interest on the open market, not just from the Raiders, but the Falcons as well.
Smith is undoubtedly happy about the way things turned out. Had he been tendered by Dallas, he would have made just $1.908MM in 2018.
The Cowboys only used Smith on 12% of their snaps last season, but he could be in for an uptick in playing time with the Raiders, particularly since former Dallas special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is in Oakland.
It remains to be seen exactly who he’ll be doing the lead blocking for, however. The Raiders inked Doug Martin to a one-year deal on Thursday and Marshawn Lynch‘s status remains murky.