Raiders, Lee Smith Agree To New Deal
The Raiders and tight end Lee Smith have agreed to a revised contract, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets. The new deal will give Smith more guaranteed money while reducing his base salary. The new deal also includes playing time incentives that will protect the team against injury. 
Initially, Smith was slated to make a $2.75MM base salary. He’ll now make $1MM along with a $1MM roster bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Smith suffered a broken bone in his lower leg in the team’s fourth game of the season last year, ending his season in October. Before 2016, the blocking specialist was largely healthy, but the Raiders still wanted some protection in the event that he missed time again this year.
The Raiders signed Smith to a three-year, $9MM deal prior to the 2015 season, so he’ll be eligible for free agency in the spring of 2018.
At the time of his injury last year, Pro Football Focus rated Smith as the No. 5 run blocking tight end in the NFL.
Raiders’ Gareon Conley Won’t Face Charges
Raiders rookie Gareon Conley will not face charges stemming from his infamous pre-draft hotel romp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) has learned. A grand jury convened on Monday to discuss Conley’s case and returned with a “no bill.” 
“He is vindicated. He looks forward to contributing in the National Football League,” attorney Kevin Spellacy said.
Heading into the draft, Conley was considered a potential top ten pick. However, days before the big day in late April, he was accused of sexual misconduct in an Ohio hotel room. Some clubs backed away from drafting Conley as they investigated the situation, but the Raiders felt that he was too good of a value to pass up at No. 24 overall. The cornerback has vigorously maintained his innocence throughout the process and the Raiders drafted Conley with the belief that he would not face charges.
Conley will not face a potential suspension from the NFL since the event in question took place before he was drafted. Barring something unexpected, the Raiders will have Conley in uniform for Week 1.
Raiders Claim George Atkinson III
- The Raiders claimed running back George Atkinson III off waivers from the Browns, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The son of former Raiders great George Atkinson, the running back spent time with the Raiders from 2014-15 and played in 16 games as a special-teamer for the Browns last season.
Gareon Conley's Deal "90 Percent" Guaranteed
It took the Raiders until their training camp eve to reach an agreement with first-round pick Gareon Conley. Although no legal clarity has come after a woman accused the cornerback of sexual assault in April, the Raiders did not design Conley’s contract with that alleged incident in mind. Conley’s deal contains 90 percent guaranteed money, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, adding the language in the four-year contract is standard despite the legal cloud surrounding the ex-Ohio State defender presently. The Raiders also agreed to terms with second-rounder Obi Melifonwu this week. Titans first-rounder Corey Davis is the only unsigned pick remaining.
- The Raiders‘ handling of Donald Penn‘s holdout will be key to how future free agents view the team, Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News writes. The Raiders relied immensely on free agency in recent years, Penn being one of the key signings. On a two-year deal worth $6.25MM AAV, the 34-year-old Penn is now by far the fourth-highest-paid offensive lineman on his own team, after the Raiders made Gabe Jackson an $11MM-per-year man in June. Penn saw a host of less proven tackles sign for more than him this offseason, and he’s seeking top-10 left tackle money. His per-year wages rank 20th presently. The Raiders have just more than $14MM in cap space. Oakland lined up Marshall Newhouse at Penn’s left tackle spot and second-year man Vadal Alexander at right tackle on Saturday.
- Menelik Watson has missed 37 of a possible 64 regular-season games due to various injuries through four seasons, and the Broncos‘ projected right tackle starter dropped a lot of weight in an attempt to stay on the field. The former Raiders right tackle is close to 315 pounds after playing in the 340s earlier in his career, per Troy Renck of Denver7 (Twitter links), noting Watson told him the reduction is because of the slew of setbacks he encountered.
Raiders Sign Andrew East
Oakland Raiders
Donald Penn Seeking Top 10 LT Money
Currently 21st among left tackles in yearly contract value, the Raiders’ Donald Penn is holding out in hopes of landing a raise. Now, thanks to retired linebacker and current NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest, there’s some clarity on Penn’s demands.
Penn spoke to McGinest about his asking price, and McGinest relayed (via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, on Twitter) that the lineman “wants to be paid in the top 10. He’s not looking to be the top paid.”
To break into the top 10 among left tackles in annual pay, Penn would need upward of the $11.25MM per season that the Rams’ Andrew Whitworth is earning on the three-year pact he signed in free agency. Penn, 34, is a year younger than Whitworth, and there’s a strong case to be made that the former deserves similar money. Like Whitworth, who has appeared in 168 of a possible 176 regular-season games and been extremely effective in the process, Penn has been an eminently durable stalwart.
An injury kept Penn out of the Raiders’ wild-card round loss to the Texans last January, but he otherwise hasn’t missed a game since entering the league with the Buccaneers in 2007. That was also the only year Penn hasn’t started in all 16 contests, as he served as a reserve in four of them. Dating back to his second year, Penn has started 156 consecutive games. He has also consistently earned quality grades from Pro Football Focus, which ranked his performance 12th among 76 qualified tackles in 2016.
“(Penn) just wants the respect for what he’s done on the field,” explained McGinest. “Stop looking at his age, look at his production”
Age isn’t on Penn’s side, as McGinest implied, but it’s hard to find a problem with his on-field output. With the Raiders and their high-octane offense aiming for a Super Bowl this year, general manager Reggie McKenzie may look to find common ground with Penn and appease one of the team’s premier linemen. Penn, guards Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson and center Rodney Hudson are among the best players in the league at their positions, and the Raiders surely want that alignment in place for all 16 games this season.
Raiders, Gareon Conley Agree To Deal
The Raiders and first-round cornerback Gareon Conley have agreed to a deal, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link).
Conley took longer than you’d expect the 24th overall pick to sign, largely because of his troubling off-field situation. The ex-Ohio State star was accused of sexual assault prior to the draft. Conley has maintained his innocence throughout the process, but a grand jury hasn’t yet weighed in on the matter. The Raiders, for their part, cleared Conley of any wrongdoing months ago as part of their own investigation, though they still took a sizable risk in drafting him.
Ironically, before the accusation cropped up, Conley was regarded as one of the safest prospects in this year’s class. The 6-foot, 195-pounder had a terrific career as a member of the Buckeyes, with whom he played extensively over the previous three years. Conley, who racked up a personal-best four interceptions last season, compares favorably to excellent Broncos corner Aqib Talib, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com,
Now that Conley’s under contract, the Raiders are left to hope he’ll be exonerated and contribute to a defense that also added second-round safety Obi Melifonwu in the draft. Those two are the newcomers in a secondary that also boasts Sean Smith, David Amerson, Reggie Nelson and Karl Joseph.
Conley’s deal leaves Titans first-round wide receiver Corey Davis, the fifth selection, as the only unsigned player in the 2017 rookie class.
Raiders OT Donald Penn Holding Out
Veteran left tackle Donald Penn is holding out for a new contract from the Raiders, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Penn didn’t report for Oakland’s training camp today, and the Raiders are aware that he wants to rework his deal, per Rapoport.
[RELATED: Raiders Release Austin Howard]
In 2017, Penn is scheduled to earn a base salary of $5.8MM and a workout bonus of $300K as part of a two-year extension he signed last March. That workout incentive could reportedly be voided due to a holdout, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. Penn’s yearly contract value of $6.25MM ranks just 21st among NFL left tackles, as he’s sandwiched between the Cardinals’ Jared Veldheer (who’s being shifted to the right side) and former No. 2 draft pick Greg Robinson.
Part of Penn’s argument for a new contract appears to revolve around him playing against the NFL’s best pass-rushers — including Von Miller, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Joey Bosa — in the AFC West, per Rapoport. He’s also been remarkably durable, as the 34-year-old Penn hasn’t missed a single game during his decade-long career. Last year, Penn ranked as the NFL’s No. 12 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Raiders have continually invested in their offensive line, which ranked first in adjusted sack rate last season, per Football Outsiders. Oakland recently reached a long-term extension with right guard Gabe Jackson, and has signed left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson to hefty free agent contracts in recent years.
Raiders Cut OT Austin Howard
Early Friday morning, tackle Austin Howard took to Instagram to announce that he is being cut by the Raiders. Howard’s release comes midway through a five-year, $30MM contract signed in 2014. 
[RELATED: Raiders Release RB Taiwan Jones]
The Raiders signed Howard to that sizable free agent deal when he was just 26 and coming off of two consecutive 16-game seasons with the Jets. Unfortunately, Howard has missed eight games over the past two seasons and his play declined sharply in 2016. Howard graded out as the 52nd best tackle in the NFL out of 77 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus. On the plus side, he committed only two penalties in his eleven games that resulted in a loss of yardage.
Had Howard stayed on board, he would have been relegated to a bench spot. The Raiders project to start Marshall Newhouse at right tackle, but Vadal Alexander and fourth-round rookie David Sharpe are also competing for the job.
Howard was slated to make $4.9MM in base salary in 2017. By cutting him, the Raiders will be left with $2.4MM in dead money against the cap.
Howard was hampered by an ankle injury last year and he underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, so he may want to take some time to heal up before he signs with another club.
Raiders Cut RB Taiwan Jones
The Raiders are releasing running back Taiwan Jones, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). With upwards of four years of service, Jones is a veteran and will not be subject to waivers. He will be free to sign with any club once he is formally cut loose. 
Jones, 29, started out with the Raiders as a running back after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. The team had him switch to cornerback for a time, but he was moved back to running back for the 2015 season.
Still, he’s had only 44 carries in his six years with the club. Jones has primarily been a special teams guy for Oakland, but he even saw his return work slashed in 2016. Jones returned 26 kicks for the Raiders in 2013 and 31 kicks in 2015. Last year, he did just eight kick returns with a lackluster 14.0 yards per attempt average.
With Jones out of the picture, the Raiders appear ready to move forward with Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, and rookie Elijah Hood as the backups for Marshawn Lynch.