It’s true, the Oakland Raiders have not done much this off-season. They’ve watched several players, including Stacy McGee, Malcolm Smith, and Andre Holmes, walk out the door and sign elsewhere. How has general manager Reggie McKenzie responded? By smiling and patting them on the back. The Raiders haven’t really been active in free agency, but maybe that’s a good thing. Here are five free agents the Raiders wish they hadn’t signed.
Top Five Worst Oakland Raider Free Agent Signings
5. Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard was really nothing more than 90’s Devin Hester. He was a really explosive kick returner that struggled to make the transition to wide receiver. However, Al Davis saw Howard’s pure speed and thought that maybe he could make him a receiver. He didn’t. Howard signed a four year, $6 million dollar contract, and was released after two seasons where he only caught six passes.
4. Larry Brown
Pete, repeat, Larry Brown was a Super Bowl MVP that Al Davis just had to have. After a Super Bowl performance that saw Brown pick off Neil O’Donnell twice, Davis simply had to have him, signing him to a five year, $12 million dollar contract. In his time with the Raiders, he only appeared in a handful of games, and only intercepted one pass with the Silver and Black.
3. LaMont Jordan
Can anyone explain what the Oakland Raiders saw in LaMont Jordan? He was a perfectly decent back for the New York Jets, and would’ve been a decent pick-up for the Raiders, but not for what they gave him. Al Davis signed Jordan to a five year, $27.5 million dollar contract. He had one decent year, where he had his first and only 1,000 yard season, and that was about it.
2. DeAngelo Hall
Al Davis swore that by pairing DeAngelo Hall with Nnamdi Asomugha, the Oakland Raiders would have the best corner duo in the NFL. He was half right, as Asomugha kept quietly being one of the NFL’s better corners, but Hall never got it.
Now, technically, Hall wasn’t signed by the Raiders, he was traded to them. But considering that he had to sign a massive contract upon being dealt to Oakland, we’re sneaking him in. Especially because that deal was a seven year, $70 million dollar contract. He didn’t fit Oakland’s scheme, and they released him three months into the season.
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Javon Walker
Javon Walker was easily the biggest free agent bust in Oakland Raiders history. Walker signed a six year, $55 million dollar contract to be Oakland’s number one receiver. Ironically, he was signed to help the development of Oakland’s number one draft bust, JaMarcus Russell.
Walker ultimately only played in 16 games for the Raiders, catching 41 catches for 483 yards and a single score. For perspective, the Raiders got similar production out of Seth Roberts in one season as their slot receiver.
