Raiders To Retain Marshawn Lynch
Oakland’s Doug Martin signing was not a precursor to a big shakeup in its backfield. The Raiders are going to retain Marshawn Lynch, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
He will receive his $1MM roster bonus due on Sunday, Rapoport reports, and appears almost certain to return as the team’s feature back.
Lynch signed a two-year deal with the Raiders, with most of the guaranteed money coming to the running back in Year 1. Jon Gruden provided a public challenge to the soon-to-be 32-year-old running back last month, indicating he needed a “full-time Lynch.” It’s looking like Bay Area fans will have a chance to see at least one more season of Lynch suiting up for his hometown team.
Although Lynch was plagued by injuries during his final year with the Seahawks, leading to his retirement/2016 sabbatical, he played in 15 Raiders games last year. He was not allowed to play in all 16 because of a suspension. While Lynch was reportedly a problem for previous Raiders coaches, he’ll have a strong chance to keep his starting job.
He rushed for 891 yards and seven touchdowns last season, with his 4.3 yards per carry eclipsing the 3.8 mark of his final Seattle slate. Lynch, though, came on strong late in the season, rushing for at least 95 yards three times in the Raiders’ final five games after failing to do that previously for the team.
Lynch, Martin, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are the top Raiders backs. The latter two are signed to rookie deals but have impressed in spurts in the past. Coming off back-to-back seasons of 2.9 yards per tote, Martin may have to show he’s worthy of another chance with Lynch now being given the green light to stay with Gruden-led team.
Raiders Interested In LB Emmanuel Lamur
Another team with ties to the Bengals staff that drafted Emmanuel Lamur is considering signing the veteran linebacker.
The Raiders have discussed adding Lamur despite having already signed outside linebacker Kyle Wilber on Saturday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Oakland has made several investments to help several areas on its defense, and Lamur has a key connection to the new Raiders staff.
New defensive coordinator Paul Guenther coached Lamur while in Cincinnati. Lamur spent the past two seasons with the Vikings, following former Bengals DC Mike Zimmer to Minneapolis. With Lamur having strictly served as Vikings depth during his stay in the Twin Cities, he likely would not cost much for the Raiders to add.
Oakland has already agreed to deals with Wilber and Tahir Whitehead, helping reshape a linebacking corps that has been fluid during Reggie McKenzie‘s GM run.
Raiders Sign LB Kyle Wilber
Kyle Wilber has found a new home. The Raiders announced that they have signed the free agent linebacker.
The 2012 fourth-round pick had spent his entire six-year career with the Cowboys, and he’s missed only a single regular season game over the past two seasons. The 28-year-old finished last season with 10 tackles and one forced fumble in 16 games. His best season came back in 2013, when he had 44 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Wilber will have plenty of competition for playing time, as the Raiders seemingly have their starters in Bruce Irvin, Marquel Lee, and Tahir Whitehead. Wilber will compete with Cory James, Nicholas Morrow, Shilique Calhoun, and Brady Sheldon for playing time. Wilber will probably most contribute on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claim: LB Jeremy Cash
- Waived: DT Josh Mauro
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: OT Zach Banner
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB Tyler Bray
- Re-signed: TE Daniel Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: LB Lerentee McCray
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: DT Dylan Bradley
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: P Colby Wadman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch
Raiders To Sign Tank Carradine
The Raiders continued to add to their defense in free agency on Friday, signing former 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Carradine visited Oakland on Thursday and met with the Seahawks today. He chose to stay in the Bay Area, where he has played with San Francisco since 2014.
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.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Raiders Sign CB Rashaan Melvin
The Raiders are expected to make an upgrade to their defensive secondary by signing free agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the move is a one-year deal worth $6.5 MM (Twitter link). 
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 move makes Melvin a starter in Oakland on one sideline with 2017 rookie Gareon Conley expected to man the other, barring further moves. The two sides met on Friday and a deal did not take long to get done.
The move is the latest in a flurry of transactions for the Raiders under new head coach Jon Gruden. On Thursday, the team signed former All-Pro receiver Jordy Nelson and released veteran Michael Crabtree. Less than an hour before Melvin signed with the team, former Bills cornerback Shareece Wright was also signed to the secondary.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Raiders Sign CB Shareece Wright
The Raiders have signed Shareece Wright to a one-year deal. The cornerback personally announced the news on his Instagram account and the deal has been confirmed by Michael Gehlken of the Review Journal (on Twitter). 
Wright will serve as cornerback depth in Oakland. There, he’ll reunite with safety Marcus Gilchrist, who signed with the Raiders this week. Both players were in the same Chargers draft class in 2011 and spent four years together.
Wright appeared in 12 games for the Bills last season and started in five of those contests. He finished out with 42 tackles, one interception, and five passes defensed.
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]