Raiders’ 2009 UFAs: Who can go and who can’t

By Anthony Carroll  |   Friday, January 02, 2009  |  Comments( 19 )

Oakland Raiders
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With the Oakland Raiders’ 2009 offseason officially underway, it’s about that time where all the rules get thrown to the side of the road and the real fun begins.

Yes, folks, we can now begin speculating Al Davis’ perennial offseason moves.

This offseason, Davis has 11 unrestricted free agents to deal with. While many of those UFAs can be kicked to the curb with no remorse, others may pose a challenge to the Raiders’ budget -- a budget that was hit with a major spending spree last offseason.

Who can go …

• WR Drew Carter: Carter was certainly an enticing pickup last offseason, but the 6-foot-3 wideout tore his ACL for the second time in his NFL career last season, and is much too risky of an investment at this point.

• WR Ashley Lelie: Lelie was an early season pickup for Oakland after losing WRs Carter and Javon Walker early on in the season, and was never seen as much of a long-term investment. With younger wideouts Johnnie Lee Higgins and Todd Watkins emerging later on in the year, Lelie’s services are no longer needed.

• TE Tony Stewart: Technically, Stewart can go; however, he may be an easy signing for Oakland to provide depth. With the emerging Zach Miller having such a firm grasp on the starting TE spot, Stewart isn’t needed or in any way essential, but he could be an easy player to bring back to fill the roster.

• OG Cooper Carlisle: This has to be the most difficult player for Oakland to pass on signing, but the 31-year-old guard gave up the most sacks in a single season since his last year with the Denver Broncos in 2006 and isn’t at the point in his career where he’ll start getting any better. For the right price, it certainly won’t hurt Oakland to bring back the veteran O-lineman, but he isn’t a must-sign player at this point.

• QB Marques Tuiasosopo: I was done talking about this guy two years ago.

• OL/DL Fred Wakefield: You have to love the versatility (Really? He’s listed as “OL/DL” on the Raiders’ roster? Remember: This is the NFL, not high school football). Despite the fact that he can play five different positions, the 30-year-old do-it-all player isn’t by any stretch of the imagination a priority signing this offseason.

Who can’t go …

• CB Nnamdi Asomugha: This seems like a no-brainer, but the Pro Bowl cornerback can’t be handled in the same manner Davis handled ex-Raider Charles Woodson. The 79-year-old owner needs to find a way to lock up Asomugha in a multiyear deal. It’s better for the team and it’s better for Asomugha. Oakland’s secondary would take a major hit if it lost the veteran DB, though. Therefore, if the franchise tag is the only way to retain No. 21’s services, Davis should use it.

• CB Chris Johnson: Perhaps the second-best corner on the team this year after Asomugha and most surprising player on the team overall, Johnson is a must-keep player. The 6-1, 200-pounder capped off the year with 35 tackles, three interceptions and an impressive 12 passes defensed in just seven starts and showed that he can stand up to weekly tests by opposing QBs.

• C Jake Grove: Grove didn’t have the smoothest start to his career, but he’s become much more of a reliable player up front for the team. He bounced back from injuries to start 12 games in 2008 and gave up just 2½ sacks and committed only three penalties all year. Plus, it’s probably not the best time to switch centers on young QB JaMarcus Russell.

• S Rashad Baker: OK, so this isn’t a must-sign player, but he certainly is someone the Raiders can’t let slip by without giving an extremely close look. The 26-year-old Baker, who was signed in December of ‘07, had just one start all season long and very limited play in 10 games, but still managed to finish tied for tops on the team with Chris Johnson with three INTs. The journeyman safety can bring some much-needed depth and stability to Oakland’s defensive backfield.

• P Shane Lechler: You know the expression “you never know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone”? Well the Raiders shouldn’t play any games with their four-time Pro Bowl punter. Lechler’s been with the team for nine years, posted back-to-back seasons with a 40-plus yard net punting average and pinned the ball inside the enemy 20-yard line 217 times in his career. The Raiders can’t afford to let their most reliable, consistent player over the last decade go.
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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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