AFC West Free Agency Grades: Oakland Raiders Huge Losers in Free Agency

Kansas City Chiefs

Grade: A

Re-signed DE/OLB Tamba Hali
Signed LB Brandon Siler
Signed WR Steve Breaston
Signed FB Le’Ron McClain
Re-signed C Casey Wiegmann

The Chiefs’ biggest move came late Wednesday night when they signed veteran pass rusher Tamba Hali, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Hali signed a $60 million contract worth $35 million guaranteed. This signing bumped the Chiefs’ grade up a full letter, as making Hali a priority was essential for the team’s immediate future.

The other two moves I really like are the signings of Le’Ron McClain at fullback and Steve Breaston at wide receiver. A Chiefs’ wide receiver group that includes Dwayne Bowe, Jon Baldwin, and now Steve Breaston is much better than any receiver group they have had in recent history.

Adding Le’Ron McClain to the running game gives this team a really tough, hard-nosed presence at the fullback position. McClain knows what it is like to help lead one of the NFL’s most feared rushing attacks, and not only is he a good blocker, he is a pretty good short-yardage back.

Denver Broncos

Grade: B+

Re-signed CB Champ Bailey
Re-signed DT Marcus Thomas
Signed RB Willis McGahee
Signed DT Ty Warren
Signed DE Derrick Harvey
Signed WR David Anderson
Signed TE’s Dante Rosario and Daniel Fells
Acquired DT Brodrick Bunkley via trade

It has seemed like the Broncos have been relatively inactive this offseason, but to lay out all of the moves as they have been above it appears as though they have actually been quite active. Signing back Champ Bailey is an underrated move and a lot of people have forgotten about it since it happened back in February, but it was a key move nonetheless to bring back one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

The other moves Broncos fans are really encouraged by are the signing of Ty Warren and Marcus Thomas, as well as trading for Brodrick Bunkley. Warren and Bunkley likely become the Broncos’ top two defensive tackles, and a rotation that looked flat out ugly last Friday now looks like it could be pretty solid when you figure in the return also of Kevin Vickerson.

San Diego Chargers

Grade: B-

Placed Franchise Tag on WR Vincent Jackson
Re-signed TE Randy McMichael
Re-signed OL Jeromy Clary
Re-signed S Eric Weddle
Signed LB Takeo Spikes
Signed S Bob Sanders

The biggest moves the Chargers made were going out and making Eric Weddle the highest paid safety in NFL history as well as adding one of my favorite players of all-time, safety Bob Sanders. Those two moves fortify one of the Chargers weaker positions, but where they really still have concerns for me is in the pass rush department.

Signing Takeo Spikes to replace departed Kevin Burnett seems like a downgrade to me, but Spikes is a savvy veteran player who can bring some real leadership to the Chargers’ defense.

Oakland Raiders

Grade: D

Re-signed DL Richard Seymour
Re-signed CB Stanford Routt
Re-signed S Michael Huff
Re-signed OL Samson Satele
Signed DE/OLB Kamerion Wimbley
Re-signed LB Sam Williams
Re-signed LB Jarvis Moss
Re-signed LS Jon Condo
Signed OL Seth Wand, Justin Smiley, and Stephon Heyer
Signed QB Trent Edwards

The Raiders’ low grade is not due to the fact that they signed a ton of players, it’s due to the fact that they lost three of the most key players on the team. CB Nnamdi Asomugha (Eagles), OL Robert Gallery (Seahawks), and TE Zach Miller (Seahawks) all left the team in free agency. The team’s best defender (easily), best offensive lineman (again, easily), and arguably their best offensive player overall are gone, and Oakland is seemingly back to square one. Superstar players do not grow on trees, and losing these three guys really hurts Oakland’s chances of improving off of their season last year.

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