NFL Draft

With the draft rapidly approaching, I decided it was time to pull out the draft value chart to see what the first overall pick is really worth.

Here it is:

	Round 1		Round 2		Round 3		Round 4		Round 5		Round 6		Round 7
1	3,000	33	580	65	265	97	112	129	43	161	27	193	14.2
2	2,600	34	560	66	260	98	108	130	42	162	26.6	194	13.8
3	2,200	35	550	67	255	99	104	131	41	163	26.2	195	13.4
4	1,800	36	540	68	250	100	100	132	40	164	25.8	196	13
5	1,700	37	530	69	245	101	96	133	39.5	165	25.4	197	12.6
6	1,600	38	520	70	240	102	92	134	39	166	25	198	12.2
7	1,500	39	510	71	235	103	88	135	38.5	167	24.6	199	11.8
8	1,400	40	500	72	230	104	86	136	38	168	24.2	200	11.4
9	1,350	41	490	73	225	105	84	137	37.5	169	23.8	201	11
10	1,300	42	480	74	220	106	82	138	37	170	23.4	202	10.6
11	1,250	43	470	75	215	107	80	139	36.5	171	23	203	10.2
12	1,200	44	460	76	210	108	78	140	36	172	22.6	204	9.8
13	1,150	45	450	77	205	109	76	141	35.5	173	22.2	205	9.4
14	1,100	46	440	78	200	110	74	142	35	174	21.8	206	9
15	1,050	47	430	79	195	111	72	143	34.5	175	21.4	207	8.6
16	1,000	48	420	80	190	112	70	144	34	176	21	208	8.2
17	950	49	410	81	185	113	68	145	33.5	177	20.6	209	7.8
18	900	50	400	82	180	114	66	146	33	178	20.2	210	7.4
19	875	51	390	83	175	115	64	147	32.6	179	19.8	211	7
20	850	52	380	84	170	116	62	148	32.2	180	19.4	212	6.6
21	800	53	370	85	165	117	60	149	31.8	181	19	213	6.2
22	780	54	360	86	160	118	58	150	31.4	182	18.6	214	5.8
23	760	55	350	87	155	119	56	151	31	183	18.2	215	5.4
24	740	56	340	88	150	120	54	152	30.6	184	17.8	216	5
25	720	57	330	89	145	121	52	153	30.2	185	17.4	17	4.6
26	700	58	320	90	140	122	50	154	29.8	186	17	218	4.2
27	680	59	310	91	136	123	49	155	29.4	187	16.6	219	3.8
28	660	60	300	92	132	124	48	156	29	188	16.2	220	3.4
29	640	61	292	93	128	125	47	157	28.6	189	15.8	221	3
30	620	62	284	94	124	126	46	158	28.2	190	15.4	222	2.6
31	600	63	276	95	120	127	45	159	27.8	191	15	223	2.3
32	590	64	270	96	116	128	44	160	27.4	192	14.6	224	2

As you can see, the first overall pick has a value of 3000 "points".

If the Detroit Lions wanted the pick, they should give us their second overall pick (2600 points) and their third (260 points) and fourth (108 points) round picks which would add up to 2968 points.

A more likely scenario would be the Cleveland Browns. The Browns should give us their first (2200 points), second (550 points) and third (104 points) round picks which would add up to 2854 points. They would really need to add another later round pick to get the point value higher but they most likely wouldn't be willing to give up so much to move up two spots in the draft.

Moss to the Packers?

According to http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm, the Packers and Raiders are discussing a potential trade involving the moody Randy Moss and inexperienced Quarteback Aaron Rodgers.

The real question is if we acquire Aaron Rodgers would we still draft a Quarterback? That would leave Andrew Walter as the only QB with any starting experience. It would also open the door for us to draft Calvin Johnson.

A more likley trade would involve Randy Moss for draft picks but Al Davis would likely ask for more than any team would be willing to part with for an expensive 30 year old receiver who plays when he wants to play.

I can't envision us with three unexperienced QBs on our roster so if Rodgers comes to Oakland, we most likely won't be draft a Quarterback. If this rumor is real, the trade would probably take place later so we could try to trade our pick to Cleveland who is interested in Russell.

Busy Friday

It was a busy Friday for the Raiders. After the smoke has cleared it looks like the Raiders have added five players to the roster.

RB Dominick Rhodes

FB Justin Griffith

TE Fred Wakefield

TE Tony Stewart

WR Alvis Whitted

Raiders Offseason Update

FA Update:
Signed C Jeremy Newberry (49ers)
Signed LB Charlton Keith
Released CB Tyrone Poole
Did not pick up option on QB Aaron Brooks

Signees:
Jeremy Newberry started his NFL career with the 49ers in 1998 after being drafted in the second round (58th overall). He started in 79 of 80 games from 1999-2003 but has faced injury problems since then and has only appeared in 11 games in the last three seasons. He suffered a torn ACL in the '98 season in mini-camp and didn't play that season. He has a major microfracture surgery on his left new in August of 2006. He appeared in three consecutive pro bowls from 2001-2003. If he can stay healthy, he is a good acquisition but that is a pretty big if looking at the last three seasons.

Charlton Keith spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and did not play in any games. He is listed on NFL.com as a DE and on the Raiders site as a LB so he is most likely a tweener. He was a rookie FA pick up by the Browns last season and looks to be a practice squad guy and could possibly contribute on special teams if he is able to make the final roster but we will most likely see him cut.

Slow start to Free Agency

The Raiders are known for big offseason moves, so this slow free agency start is a bit suprising to most Raiders fans. The only transaction thus far in Free agency has been cutting CB Tyrone Poole according the official site.

There are still some decent options available but any real value moves will most likley be done through trades. Former 49ers center Newberry is a likely addition and at a relatively low expense. There aren't any other FAs that have seemed to catch out front office's eye yet so keep an eye out for trades.

I still expect Randy Moss to be traded and a veteran QB to be brought in. David Carr or Brad Johnson are both options. The sad thing is the best QB left in Free Agency might be Aaron Brooks. At this point, I wouldn't mind having him back as long as it comes at a lower cost and he isn't named our starter.

Garcia and Raiders at Impasse?

NOTE: Garcia has officially signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs

New reports are surfacing that are saying Garcia and the Raiders are at an impasse. This comes one day after reports saying a deal was in place. All things considered, this is probably a good thing. Garcia will command a very large contract after leading the Eagles to the playoffs last season and he has struggled in below average offenses. At his age, he isn't worth the kind of money he will get.

With Plummer retiring and Garcia most likley heading to Tampa Bay, our options for a veteran QB are getting thin. We could still look at David Carr. He would come at a lower price and has a few less years on him.

Other News
Former RT Langston Walker has signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills.

Garcia a Raider?

There are numerous reports all over the internet claiming Jeff Garcia has reached an agreement with the Raiders. Can Garcia help salvage or team or will he be a scape goat next year?

Jeff Garcia has played very well in certain situations and struggled in others. The current situation in Oakland may not be the best and this could go down as a struggle for him. It depends on our offensive system. No one is really sure what it will look like yet other than our coaching staff.