Raiders To Meet With Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh’s free agent tour continues. On Wednesday, he’ll meet with the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Raiders’ Depth Chart]
Suh recently visited with the Titans, Saints, and Rams, but has yet to sign with any team. New head coach Jon Gruden is quickly restaffing his team with veterans and the 31-year-old Suh would be a huge pickup for his defensive line.
The Raiders watched defensive end Denico Autry leave in free agency to join the Colts, but they did re-sign interior lineman Justin Ellis to hold down one of their tackle spots. New defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has traditionally run a 4-3 defense, so Suh and Ellis would likely start together, but he has said that he would be open to installing a 3-4 scheme if it worked better for the team’s personnel.
As it stands, the Raiders project to start Khalil Mack, Eddie Vanderdoes, Ellis, and Mario Edwards on the line with Bruce Irvin, free agent pickup Tahir Whitehead, and Cory James at linebacker. The front seven could use some fortification in the draft, but they can cross defensive tackle off of their list of needs in the early rounds by signing Suh.
Raiders To Meet With Eric Decker
On Tuesday morning, there were rumblings online of Eric Decker meeting with the Saints. It turns out that Decker is meeting with a team today, but not that one. He’ll be meeting with the Raiders, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (on Twitter). 
The meeting with the Raiders marks his first visit of free agency. In Oakland, Decker could become the No. 3 wide receiver on a depth chart that already includes Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson.
Decker was a late surprise cut by the Jets last year, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Titans. He fell a little flat in Tennessee, recording 54 catches for just 563 yards and one touchdown. Decker also missed most of 2016 due to injury, so the 31-year-old is now two years removed from being a high-end wide receiver.
In 2015, Decker’s last complete season, he hauled in 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Jets. He also had 1,000+ yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Broncos and nearly hit that mark in his first Jets season in 2014.
Raiders Trade Jamize Olawale To Cowboys
The Raiders have traded fullback Jamize Olawale to the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Raiders will send a sixth-round pick to the Cowboys in the deal in exchange for a fifth-rounder.
Olawale was originally signed by Oakland off of Dallas’ practice squad. He has been with the Raiders since 2012, but he’s now headed back to Dallas to take over for Keith Smith, who signed with the Raiders earlier this month. In essence, the Raiders and Cowboys have swapped fullbacks, but in a slightly more complicated fashion.
Olawale, 29 in April, has been primarily used as a blocker in Oakland. Over the last three seasons, he has just 55 carries for 200 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been a huge factor as a receiver either with just 27 grabs for 344 yards and one score in that span.
Trading Olawale takes $1.6MM off of Oakland’s cap. Meanwhile, they’ve also turned a sixth-round pick into a fifth-round pick in a deal that echoes this week’s Cordarrelle Patterson trade with the Patriots.
Raiders Sign QB Josh Johnson
One of Jon Gruden‘s final draft picks as Buccaneers head coach was a fifth-round selection of Josh Johnson in 2008, and the quarterback still being active opened the door to a reunion now that Gruden is coaching again.
The Raiders signed Johnson on Monday, according to agent Doug Hendrickson (Twitter link). An Oakland native, Johnson will return to his hometown and rejoin a Gruden staff to continue a nomadic career.
While Johnson has not thrown a pass in a game since 2011, he’s remained on rosters as a backup. Most recently, the Texans added him after Deshaun Watson‘s injury. Johnson’s rookie year came under Gruden, but he didn’t throw his first NFL pass until 2009.
The 31-year-old signal-caller could be in line to become Oakland’s third-string quarterback, behind Derek Carr and Connor Cook.
AFC Contract Details: Crabtree, Williamson
Here are figures on some of the recent contracts signed around the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless noted otherwise.
- Michael Crabtree, WR (Ravens): Three years, $21MM. $11MM guaranteed, $8MM guaranteed in 2018. $7MM signing bonus, $2.5MM performance-based incentives. $2MM roster bonus due in March 2019 (via Pelissero and NFL reporter Howard Balzer).
- Avery Williamson, LB (Jets): Three years, $22.5MM. $16MM fully guaranteed, $6MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $4MM, $6MM, $6.25MM, with the 2018, ’19 amounts being fully guaranteed. Cap charges: $6MM (2018), $8MM (’19), $8.5MM in 2020 (per Balzer and ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini).
- Matt Barkley, QB (Bengals): Two years, $3.35MM (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
- Preston Brown, LB (Bengals): One year, $4MM. $2MM signing bonus, $1MM workout bonus (via Rapoport and Balzer).
- Tyler Eifert, TE (Bengals): One year, $5.5MM (via Rapoport).
- Donte Moncrief, WR (Jaguars): One-year, $9.6MM. Fully guaranteed plus $2MM in incentives (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).
- Caleb Sturgis, K (Chargers): Two years, $4.45MM. $1MM signing bonus (via Rapoport and Balzer).
- Johnson Bademosi, CB (Texans): Two years, $6.25MM. $3.25MM guaranteed, $1MM roster bonus. Fully guaranteed $1.25MM base salary in 2018, non-guaranteed $2.25M base in 2019, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Jarvis Jenkins, DL (Chiefs): One year, $880K. $500K guaranteed, $90K signing bonus (per Balzer).
- Travaris Cadet, RB (Bills): One year, $880K. $45K signing bonus, $790K base salary (via Wilson).
- Andrew DePaola, LS (Raiders): Four years, $4.27MM. $875K guaranteed, $580K roster bonus (per Balzer).
Patterson Not A Fit For Jon Gruden?
John Elway said at the Combine the team planned to keep Menelik Watson, despite his struggles with performance and injuries last season. The 2017 UFA acquisition followed Donald Stephenson as a disappointing mid-level UFA add, but at this point, Denver would be pursuing another lower-tier free agent since the top talents on this market have signed. Of PFR’s top 10 UFA tackles, only LaAdrian Waddle, Cameron Fleming and Sam Young remain unsigned. Waddle is meeting with the Patriots, and Fleming is visiting the Cowboys on Monday. The Broncos signed Watson after middling results with the Raiders, and Oakland’s other two right tackles in that span — Austin Howard and Marshall Newhouse — are now available. The Broncos have tried draft choices Michael Schofield and Ty Sambrailo here as well and could bring in competition through that avenue again, but the team looks like it’s examining veterans right now.
- The Raiders agreeing to ship Cordarrelle Patterson to the Patriots freed up $3.25MM in cap space, but the primary reason for the trade was Patterson not being a fit for what Jon Gruden is eyeing, Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweets. Patterson signed a two-year deal with the Raiders last year. The Raiders have reshuffled their receiving corps but are now in deed of more depth at that position.
Raiders Trade Cordarrelle Patterson To Patriots
The Raiders will be parting ways with Cordarrelle Patterson and sending the former All-Pro kick returner to the Patriots, Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweets. Barstool Sports first reported the deal. The Raiders have since announced the deal.
The AFC teams will exchange late-round picks in this deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms as such, reporting (via Twitter) the Raiders will receive a fifth-rounder and send out a sixth-round choice. Oakland previously did not possess a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Patterson has one more year remaining on his contract, and he’ll be changing teams for the second straight offseason. The Patriots will receive a player who has two first-team All-Pro honors to his credit, those coming during the former first-round pick’s time with the Vikings.
The sixth-year wideout stands to count $3.25MM against the cap this season. He worked as an auxiliary Raiders pass-catcher and gadget player during his one season in Oakland, accumulating 430 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice — both on runs. He averaged 9.3 yards per tote on 13 attempts.
Dion Lewis served as New England’s primary kick returner last season. He’s since signed with the Titans to leave that role vacant, and a franchise that’s valued special teams immensely under Bill Belichick will acquire a dangerous return man to fill Lewis’ spot. Patterson has not served as a punt returner much in his career, so it’s likely the 6-foot-2 cog will be installed on the Pats’ kick-return unit and potentially have a role as a backup wide receiver.
The 2013 first-rounder has not lived up to expectations as a receiver, but he landed on the 2013 and ’16 All-Pro teams for his return work. Patterson has six career kick-return scores, with three of those coming as a rookie.
Oakland has rearranged its wide receiving corps this offseason, jettisoning its No. 2 and No. 4 WRs from a season ago. Although, Jordy Nelson replaced Michael Crabtree. The team may be in need of some depth to take Patterson’s place. Seth Roberts is due back after receiving a $2MM roster bonus late this week. His $2.25MM base salary is now fully guaranteed.
Raiders Meet With DT Clinton McDonald
The Raiders have met with free agent defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
McDonald, who is now entering his age-32 campaign, has spent the past four seasons as a rotational lineman with the Buccaneers. In 2017, McDonald split time with high-profile free agent addition Chris Baker, managing five sacks and 18 tackles from the interior. However, Pro Football Focus graded McDonald as a bottom-10 defensive tackle among 121 qualifiers.
Oakland has made a flurry of free agent signings this week, and the club’s defensive line was not forgotten. Defensive tackle Justin Ellis was re-signed on a three-year deal, while former 49ers end Tank Carradine was also added. The Raiders did lose Denico Autry, however, so McDonald could help fill out the club’s interior.
Raiders To Host WR Ryan Grant
The Raiders are the next team up on receiver Ryan Grant‘s free agent tour, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Grant agreed to a four-year deal with the Ravens on the first day of the free agent period, but that contract was voided due to a failed physical. Baltimore immediately signed fellow free agent pass-catcher Michael Crabtree, leading to speculation that the Ravens aren’t being fully truthful about their assessment of Grant’s health.
Oakland cut Crabtree from its roster earlier this week, but added veteran wideout Jordy Nelson on a two-year deal. Fellow receiver Seth Roberts is also going to stick around in Oakland, as he received a $2MM roster bonus and saw his entire 2018 base salary become guaranteed today, tweets Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Grant would join Crabtree, Roberts, Amari Cooper, Cordarrelle Patterson, and others in a suddenly crowded Raiders receiver room.
Grant, a former fifth-round pick, broke out with 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns with Washington in 2017. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Grant 57th among 116 NFL wide receivers. The Redskins had previously expressed interest in retaining Grant, so it’s possible a reunion can be forged, while Grant has also met with the Colts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/18
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: OL Billy Turner
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: OL Jordan Devey
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: LS Bradley Northnagel
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: DB Akeem King