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The Raiders may have raised some NFL ire Thursday - and a few chuckles - after paying an eye-popping $18.125 million to re-sign relatively unknown and unproven defensive lineman Tommy Kelly hours before the opening of free agency.
But the team's approach was more measured Friday, when it reached an agreement with free-agent safety Gibril Wilson, a San Jose native formerly of the Super Bowl champion Giants. Wilson, a coveted defensive back who'd received strong interest from at least three teams, signed a six-year contract for $39 million, including a $16 million signing bonus.
The team also saw quarterback Josh McCown sign with Miami - the Raiders had hoped to keep him - and wide receiver Jerry Porter head for Jacksonville. The Raiders continue to have interest in former 49ers offensive lineman Kwame Harris after waiving offensive lineman Barry Sims.
Wilson, who went to Oak Grove High in San Jose and the University of Tennessee, has 11 interceptions in four seasons. His suitors included the Falcons, Jaguars and Saints.
Raiders owner Al Davis met with Wilson much of Friday morning. The defensive back's deal can be compared with that of free safety Madieu Williams, who took a six-year, $33 million deal with the Vikings on Friday.
With Wilson, 26, the Raiders get an aggressive, blitzing safety who can play either from the free or strong side, allowing them to try Michael Huff at free safety. In four seasons with the Giants, Wilson established himself as a smart, big hitter but he's still a young player who many NFL scouts feel plays tentatively at times.
In 2007, Wilson had 92 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defensed in 13 regular-season games. A quadriceps injury sidelined him for three games. Wilson recorded 27 tackles in the Giants' four playoff games, including five tackles in the Super Bowl XLII victory over the Patriots.
As Wilson comes in, others are leaving. The Raiders waived Sims, a 10-year veteran, a move that saved the team only about $200,000 in cap space because much of Sims' $6.8 million cap charge is prorated bonus money. The left tackle had 119 starts in 136 games in Oakland.
McCown, one of coach Lane Kiffin's favorites and a nine-game starter in 2007, signed a multi-year contract with the Dolphins. The Raiders had hoped to re-sign McCown, who passed for 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 1,151 yards in nine games last season.
Porter agreed to a six-year, $30 million contract with the Jaguars that will pay him $10 million guaranteed. The former second-round pick out of West Virginia gained fame in Alameda for wearing a replica of pro wrestler Ted DiBiase's money belt and for feuding with former coaches Jon Gruden and Art Shell. Pass rusher Chris Clemons, who had a team-high eight sacks in only two starts last season, reportedly is close to signing with Philadelphia. He is scheduled to undergo a physical and sign the paperwork today at the Eagles' training facility. The Raiders tried unsuccessfully to re-sign Clemons before the free-agency deadline.
The Raiders are still pursuing Harris, the former 49ers first round pick and starter who was not a fan favorite in San Francisco. Although Harris has proved to be a somewhat consistent run blocker in the NFL, he was a constant liability in pass protection during his five-year career with the 49ers.
But Harris may be a better fit in offensive line coach Tom Cable's zone, or gap, blocking scheme, which will keep him out of one-on-one matchups and allow him to open holes for recently re-signed tailback Justin Fargas.
Harris was the 26th overall pick in the 2003 draft out of Stanford.
Source: sfgate.com
But the team's approach was more measured Friday, when it reached an agreement with free-agent safety Gibril Wilson, a San Jose native formerly of the Super Bowl champion Giants. Wilson, a coveted defensive back who'd received strong interest from at least three teams, signed a six-year contract for $39 million, including a $16 million signing bonus.
The team also saw quarterback Josh McCown sign with Miami - the Raiders had hoped to keep him - and wide receiver Jerry Porter head for Jacksonville. The Raiders continue to have interest in former 49ers offensive lineman Kwame Harris after waiving offensive lineman Barry Sims.
Wilson, who went to Oak Grove High in San Jose and the University of Tennessee, has 11 interceptions in four seasons. His suitors included the Falcons, Jaguars and Saints.
Raiders owner Al Davis met with Wilson much of Friday morning. The defensive back's deal can be compared with that of free safety Madieu Williams, who took a six-year, $33 million deal with the Vikings on Friday.
With Wilson, 26, the Raiders get an aggressive, blitzing safety who can play either from the free or strong side, allowing them to try Michael Huff at free safety. In four seasons with the Giants, Wilson established himself as a smart, big hitter but he's still a young player who many NFL scouts feel plays tentatively at times.
In 2007, Wilson had 92 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defensed in 13 regular-season games. A quadriceps injury sidelined him for three games. Wilson recorded 27 tackles in the Giants' four playoff games, including five tackles in the Super Bowl XLII victory over the Patriots.
As Wilson comes in, others are leaving. The Raiders waived Sims, a 10-year veteran, a move that saved the team only about $200,000 in cap space because much of Sims' $6.8 million cap charge is prorated bonus money. The left tackle had 119 starts in 136 games in Oakland.
McCown, one of coach Lane Kiffin's favorites and a nine-game starter in 2007, signed a multi-year contract with the Dolphins. The Raiders had hoped to re-sign McCown, who passed for 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 1,151 yards in nine games last season.
Porter agreed to a six-year, $30 million contract with the Jaguars that will pay him $10 million guaranteed. The former second-round pick out of West Virginia gained fame in Alameda for wearing a replica of pro wrestler Ted DiBiase's money belt and for feuding with former coaches Jon Gruden and Art Shell. Pass rusher Chris Clemons, who had a team-high eight sacks in only two starts last season, reportedly is close to signing with Philadelphia. He is scheduled to undergo a physical and sign the paperwork today at the Eagles' training facility. The Raiders tried unsuccessfully to re-sign Clemons before the free-agency deadline.
The Raiders are still pursuing Harris, the former 49ers first round pick and starter who was not a fan favorite in San Francisco. Although Harris has proved to be a somewhat consistent run blocker in the NFL, he was a constant liability in pass protection during his five-year career with the 49ers.
But Harris may be a better fit in offensive line coach Tom Cable's zone, or gap, blocking scheme, which will keep him out of one-on-one matchups and allow him to open holes for recently re-signed tailback Justin Fargas.
Harris was the 26th overall pick in the 2003 draft out of Stanford.
Source: sfgate.com