Las Vegas Raiders Forum

Raiders lose DJ Hayden to Lions in free agency

Big Deal!

The Oakland Raiders are not letting any of their exclusive rights free agents (ERFA) escape this offseason.

According to Silver & Black Pride, wide receiver Seth Roberts, tight end Gabe Holmes and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland have all been offered one-year ERFA tenders. These tenders pay out $615,000 for one year of service and prevent players from signing with any other team in free agency.

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Roberts, 26, has operated as Oakland's slot receiver each of the past two seasons, carving out a role in between Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree on the outsides. He struggled with drops in 2016 and was less explosive than he was as a rookie, but he still scored five touchdowns for the second straight season. One of those touchdowns was a 41-yard game-winner in overtime of a Week 8 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, illustrating his ability to come through for the Raiders in the clutch.

Holmes still hasn't appeared in a single regular-season game since joining the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2015, but there remains some hope for his future. He is only 25 years old and carries a promising frame for his position at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. Starting tight end Lee Smith is a blocking specialist coming off a season-ending injury and former third-round draft pick Clive Walford has been largely underwhelming, so there's an opportunity for an all-around tight end to climb the depth chart.

Kirkland joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent just last year and saw the field as an extra offensive lineman when former second-round draft pick Menelik Watson was injured. At 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, he's a big body that will provide Oakland's offensive line with some depth moving forward.

Any of these three players are can sign a contract extension with the Raiders instead of playing under the terms of the one-year tender, but Roberts is the only one with a reasonable chance to do so.

Fuck DJ Hayden I'm glad he's gone. But who do we have to replace him? I was envisioning Aldon Smith, Hightower, Campbell to beef up this D. Looks like that's not happening. Fuck we could have at least got Tony Jefferson or whatever his name is. The draft isn't gonna fill all our needs so I don't know what the fuck is going on and it's still early as fuck but this is no time for Reggie to go into a fried food coma.

Who gives a fuck about Hayden. Good riddance.

Lions gave Hayden like 6.25 million per for a one year contract. Lions will be burned in the passing game when teams isolate him. At that cost you'd think Matt Millen is still the GM there!!! LOL!!

I understand we have to pay Carr & Mack but wtf is Reggie doing? We got one of the worst defenses in the league in case Reggie forgot. I want FAs at least one or two the draft ain't no garentee especially since we struck out with Ward last year. Maybe Reggie is getting ready to sign Peterson or Hightower who we should sign cause he can cover. Denico Autry & Ward ain't gonna cut it. I never thought I'd miss Stacy McGee but I do. Give Reggie some time cause he is slow but NE is loading up.

NE loading up for another run or two before Brady calls it quits.
It's been frustrating sitting on the sidelines and watching everyone get scooped up on the 1st day. Reggie could have signed at least one of the top names but I think he's playing it smart knowing we need to re-up Carr and Mack next year.
We need to have another good draft for sure

My FA shopping list as of now:

DT: Poe or Hankins
MLB: Zach Brown or Kevin Minter

TE: Jared Cook
DE: Datone Jones - Our new starting LDE for the next 5 years.
DE: Chris Long - Because he's part of the Raiders Royal family.

We signed Newhouse from NYG. I thought we were gonna go all out & make a run this year. We were so close to NE last year, I thought we would load up this year and go for the SB but it seems we are content to sit back & watch NE run away with it. We are not beating NE I don't think we even make the playoffs.

EJ MANUEL, RAIDERS REPORTEDLY AGREE TO CONTRACT AFTER 4 SEASONS WITH BILLS