Raiders Release Punter Marquette King
The Raiders announced that they have released punter Marquette King. King has been a longtime fan favorite, but new head coach Jon Gruden will seek out a different fourth-down solution. He was in the midst of a five-year, $16.5MM contract signed in March of 2016. 
The charismatic King, who led all punters in Pro Bowl fan voting this year, was the NFL’s punting yards leader in 2014 and earned a second-team All-Pro nod in ’16. Last year, King’s 47.4 yards per punt average was good for sixth in the NFL and his net average of 42.7 per try was third behind only Brett Kern (Titans) and Johnny Hekker (Rams).
Hekker is widely regarded as the best punter in the game today, but King has a similarly strong reputation. He is now free to find work elsewhere while the Raiders save $2.9MM against $150K in dead money.
Colby Wadman, 22, now stands as the only punter on Oakland’s roster. The team may bring in some competition for him between now and camp.
Four Teams Interested In Tre Boston
The safety market has moved at a snail’s pace this year and Tre Boston has taken notice. The Chargers free agent says that he is frustrated by the way things unfolded, though tells Alex Marvez of The Sporting News that he has drawn interest from the Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, and Giants this offseason. Meanwhile, things have stalled with the Bolts because they are looking to pay him more as a “strong safety type of player.” 
“It’s kind of unbelievable to me,” he said. “We’re talking about a position that’s needed more and more on the field in today’s game. “There are about five or six valuable starting safeties in free agency right now. But I guess it’s just trying to get us to take peanuts like the rest of them have. That’s just the business of the game.”
Signing a player like Boston could impact a team’s compensatory pick formula and clubs with safety needs could be waiting until the draft to score top prospects like Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, Florida State’s Derwin James, or Stanford’s Justin Reid. The Seahawks are also open to trading Earl Thomas (for a hefty asking price) and that’s probably holding things up for this year’s available veteran safeties. Boston isn’t the only one in a holding pattern – Eric Reid and Kenny Vaccaro are also without NFL homes as we look ahead to April.
“It’s a marginal group,” one executive said of this year’s free agent safety class, noting the lack of top-end speed in the bunch. “You really don’t have one cover safety in the group. You have some decent box types like Vaccaro and Reid, but it’s primarily backup types left.”
Last year, Boston had to settle for a one-year deal. For now, he’s still holding out hope of landing a multi-year pact, but he acknowledges that he may have to do another one-year contract before trying his luck in the open market next year.
Raiders Sign CB Leon Hall
The Raiders have signed veteran cornerback Leon Hall. Agent Doug Hendrickson announced the agreement on Twitter and the team confirmed the news moments later via press release. 
The deal means that Hall will be staying put in the Bay Area after playing for the 49ers in 2017. Hall is 33 years old and will turn 34 in December, but new coach Jon Gruden has shown a predilection for signing older players this offseason. Previously this month, the Raiders signed aging vets such as wide receiver Jordy Nelson, running back Doug Martin, and safety Reggie Nelson.
The Raiders have shaken up the secondary in recent weeks as Sean Smith, David Amerson, and T.J. Carrie are out and free agents Rashaan Melvin and Shareece Wright are in to join 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley at cornerback. Conley and Melvin project to start on the outside while Hall could factor in as a nickel back.
Hall spent the bulk of his career with the Bengals, but has bounced around since 2016. Last year, in nine games, Hall played on 34% of SF’s defensive snaps and 20% of the club’s special teams snaps. He amassed 15 tackles and one pass defensed.
AFC Notes: Gruden, Kaepernick, Texans, Watson
Raiders coach Jon Gruden is surprised to see Colin Kaepernick without a job in the NFL, but he’s not necessarily of the belief that he is starting caliber.
“I think there’s a lot of intrigue there. His performance on the field wasn’t very good, on tape,” Gruden said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez). “I think, Robert Griffin III, a rookie of the year, surprised he’s out there. Tim Tebow, takes a team to the playoffs, there’s some surprise that he never came back. You know, Johnny Manziel, he’s out there. Back to Kaepernick, you know he got beat out by (Blaine Gabbert), to start the (2016) season. I think that says something. (But) I am surprised he’s not in camp with somebody. He probably will be soon.”
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Texans coach Bill O’Brien says quarterback Deshaun Watson is ahead of schedule in ACL rehab and could be on the field throwing for OTAs (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). It’s unlikely that he’ll participate in team periods, but he has a chance at doing some individual workouts.
- The Browns‘ two-year deal with Drew Stanton is worth $6.5MM, a source tells Rapoport (Twitter link). The deal includes $4.15MM fully guaranteed and carries a maximum value of $11.3MM.
- With Tyrod Taylor, Stanton, and a quarterback to be drafted later, the Browns are expected to shop Cody Kessler, Rapoport tweets. Kessler started eight games for Cleveland in 2016, but didn’t necessarily shine. Given Kessler’s performance and the fact that the Browns probably do not have him in their plans, I wouldn’t expect much of a trade market for him.
- The Colts moved down from No. 3 to No. 6, but they do seem inclined to trade down any further unless the expected run on quarterbacks fails to materialize, Stephen Holder of the Indy Star writes. The Colts believe that at least two of this year’s top four quarterbacks (Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield) will go in the top five, leaving them to choose some of this year’s very best overall talents. If that’s the case, they’re content to stay put. “If it’s beneficial for us, and we think we have a deal that works long term, we’ll make the deal,” GM Chris Ballard said recently. “But (No. 6) is a good spot for us.”
Raiders Release TE Clive Walford
The Raiders are releasing tight end Clive Walford, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The former third-round pick is expected to find a new home quickly, Schefter says. 
Walford, 27 in October, had 33 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. He also had similar numbers as a rookie. Last year, however, he was not a focal part of the offense thanks to the arrival of Jared Cook. Walford had just nine grabs for 80 yards and zero TDs while Cook put up a 54/688/2 stat line.
Jon Gruden is a proponent of two tight end sets, but he’ll lean on Cook and blocking specialist Lee Smith with some involvement from the newly signed Derek Carrier. By cutting Walford, the Raiders save $1.9MM against $200K in dead money.
Raiders Trying To Re-Sign LB NaVorro Bowman
The Raider will meet with NaVorro Bowman‘s agent at this week’s league meetings in an effort to re-sign the veteran linebacker, according to Vic Tafur of the Athletic (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Raiders Interested In CB Leon Hall]
Bowman, 29, hasn’t drawn much interest since the market opened earlier this month, as Oakland is the only club to which he’s been linked. But he’s clearly the best off-ball linebacker who remains unsigned after fellow free agents such as Nigel Bradham, Avery Williamson, Zach Brown, and Anthony Hitchens all landed contracts.
The Raiders signed Bowman last October after he was released by the 49ers, and he went on to start 10 games for the club. In 15 total games last season, Bowman posted 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception while grading as the NFL’s No. 11 linebacker, per Pro Football Focus. Bowman said in December that he’d prefer to re-sign with the Raiders, noting his affinity for the Bay Area.
Oakland has already made one major addition to its linebacking corps this offseason by inking former Lion Tahir Whitehead to a three-year deal. Whitehead has experience at each of the linebacker positions, but he’d shift to the outside to make room for Bowman if the latter is re-signed.
Raiders Interested In CB Leon Hall
The Raiders are in talks with free agent cornerback Leon Hall, reports Vic Tafur of the Athletic (Twitter link).
Under new head coach Jon Gruden, Oakland has moved in a decidedly veteran direction this offseason, reaching deals with aging players such as wide receiver Jordy Nelson, running back Doug Martin, and safety Reggie Nelson. Hall — at age-33 — would certainly fit that bill, and give the Raiders another option in a secondary that’s seen considerable overhaul over the past several months.
Sean Smith, David Amerson, and T.J. Carrie are out in Oakland’s defensive backfield, while free agents Rashaan Melvin and Shareece Wright now join a cornerback depth chart that also includes 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley. With Conley and Melvin as the projected outside starters, Hall would likely play in a nickel role if signed by the Raiders.
Hall, a longtime Bengal, has bounced around since 2016, and spent last season with the 49ers. In nine games (one start), Hall played on 34% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps and 20% of the club’s special teams snaps. In that time, Hall put up 15 tackles and one pass defensed.
Mark Davis To Step Back From Football Side
- Raiders owner Mark Davis said with the hiring of new head coach Jon Gruden, he plans to be done with the football side of the organization, NBC Sports’ Scott Bair tweets. “It was a six-year process to get Jon to be the head coach,” Davis said. “This year, he finally came on board. That allows me to see a long-term process working out on the football side. … I play devil’s advocate on certain things, but those guys make the decisions.”
Raiders To Re-Sign Reggie Nelson
The Raiders are bringing back veteran safety Reggie Nelson on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport notes that Nelson, who spent six seasons with the Bengals, can help teach new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s system. Guenther had been the Bengals’ defensive coordinator since 2014 before joining Jon Gruden’s staff this offseason.
Nelson, 34, started all 16 games at free safety for the Raiders last season and is the team’s second free-agent signing at safety this offseason, along with Marcus Gilchrist. It remains to be seen whether Oakland will opt to start Nelson or use him in a reserve capacity while having Karl Joseph and Gilchrist work as the starting safeties. Joseph had a Pro Football Focus grade of 80.8 last season, which was the highest of any defender currently on the Raiders’ roster outside of Khalil Mack.
Nelson was rated as our No. 9 safety available in free agency this offseason, with Gilchrist ranked at No. 7. Oakland also added cornerback Rashaan Melvin on a one-year deal earlier this offseason.
In two seasons with the Raiders, Nelson has yet to miss a start and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016 for the second time in his career. He was first selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015 while with the Bengals after recording a career-high eight interceptions.
The Raiders also have last year’s second-round pick Obi Melifonwu at safety after he appeared in just five games his rookie season. Entering Saturday, the Raiders had $17.87MM in available cap space, which put them at No. 14 in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers: WR Cobi Hamilton
- Re-signed: OL Daniel Munyer
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Ramik Wilson
Oakland Raiders
- Re-signed: LB Shilique Calhoun (ERFA)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: DT Daniel McCullers