Sorting through the Raiders’ many DEs

By Anthony Carroll | Friday, May 16, 2008 | ( 36 )

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Less than two months ago, the Oakland Raiders had all of three defensive ends on their roster. And that’s counting 27-year-old Tommy Kelly, who’s listed as a defensive end on the team’s official depth chart but will likely play defensive tackle for the majority of 2008.

Now, even with Kelly excluded, Oakland has seven ends on its roster. Two are returning players, two are undrafted free agents, another two are veteran signings, and one is a late-round draft pick.

Now that it appears the Raiders have established their base of DEs heading into their June 3-5 minicamp, let’s take a look at all of the team’s options and which appear most likely to make the final 2008 cut.

Derrick Burgess: There’s no doubt Burgess will be starting in 2008. The 260-pounder has become the cornerstone of the Raiders’ pass rush over the past three seasons, registering 35 sacks in 42 starts. Since 2005, however, Burgess has seen his yearly sack total decline from 16 to 11 to eight. The Raiders certainly can’t afford for that trend to continue, or they’ll find it very hard to restore their 28th-ranked pass rush this season.

Kalimba Edwards: Oakland picked up Edwards, a second-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 2002, on March 28. The 265-pounder was considered a major disappointment in Detroit, where he played for six seasons, started just 22 games and recorded 26 sacks. There is high potential in the investment, however. Edwards has never played in a system other than Detroit and has demonstrated before that he can be explosive on the line when given the opportunity (seven sacks in two starts in 2005). The 28-year-old should make the team, but expect him to start the season as a reserve.

Derrick Gray: Gray is one of the team’s many post-draft additions, signed May 9. The undrafted free agent from Texas Southern was not considered a pro-level player until his last season with the Tigers, when he racked up 76 tackles, 24½ takedowns for a loss, 9½ sacks and three forced fumbles. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Gray certainly fits the mold of strongside end; however, he has a very short resume, and making the team appears unlikely at this point.

Greyson Gunheim: Like Gray, Gunheim was recently signed as an undrafted free agent and will find it very difficult to make the final roster. Last season, none of the Raiders’ undrafted free-agent signings made the team; however, Gunheim will certainly look to change that. In his last two years with Washington, the 6-5, 265-pounder recorded 85 tackles, 25 stops for a loss and 12½ sacks. Along with his college stat line, Gunheim also has impressive measurables, which he displayed at his pro day workout, running a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, 4.43-second short shuttle and recording a 36-inch vertical. Nevertheless, Gunheim will find it very difficult to make it past September.

Jay Richardson: Richardson’s rookie season couldn’t have played out any better -- at least for himself. The former fifth-round pick beat out DE Quentin Moses, who was selected three rounds higher than Richardson in the same draft but then cut prior to the season. The 24-year-old then started in 11 of the team’s 16 games and recorded 33 tackles and one sack. Expect the 280-pounder to make the team this season, but to play a reduced role due to veteran additions this offseason.

Trever Scott: Scott was the 169th player selected in this year’s draft and the fourth chosen by the Raiders. The sixth-rounder has both great size (6-5, 256 pounds) and speed (4.63 in the 40), but he comes from a program in Buffalo with very little national exposure. The former tight end started 24 career games with the Bulls and recorded 99 tackles, 19 sacks, 12 quarterback pressures and 28½ stops for losses. With 10 sacks as a senior, Scott ranked second in the MAC and 16th in the NCAA in the category. Because of his great speed and the fact he was drafted, it appears Scott has a good chance to make the team.

Greg Spires: Spires just signed with Oakland on Tuesday, but it appears he’s settling in very quickly. The soon-to-be-11th-year veteran will compete for the starting right defensive end job this offseason opposite Burgess on the left. On a positive note, Spires has played in 94 games in his career for three different teams (Buccaneers, Browns and Patriots) and would have no problem immediately sliding into a starting role. On a negative note, however, the 33-year-old has never registered more than eight sacks in a single season and has certainly lost a step. Still, expect him to be very competitive for the last starting right end slot.

Predictions:

Cut: Gray, Gunheim
Left defensive end: Burgess, Edwards
Right defensive end: Spires, Richardson, Scott

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at

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	About Anthony Carroll Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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Comments: 36 | Sign Up View all comments


	No.1	02:26 AM 05/16/2008

	I'm really looking forward to seeing what Greg Spires brings... I thought that move by Al Davis was brilliant!!! He's a very...


	No.2	02:38 AM 05/16/2008

	Kind of off-subject, but I missed out yesterday on the Best Football Themed movies. Shocked some big names were missing. Here's...


	No.3 sec116row11seats12and13	02:43 AM 05/16/2008

	Cut: Gray, Gunheim Left defensive end: Burgess, Spires Right defensive end: Edwards, Richardson, Scott right side rotation...