Jerry Rice Jersey , sign up for FanPulse HERE!Free agency is a time of hope. That’s at least the case with every team going in. Coming out of it, however, that isn’t always the case. Some teams end up..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁昐B Nation FanPulseRaider Nation unanimous Raiders got better from free agency with overwhelming favorite for most impactful signingNew,56commentsPDTShareTweetShareShareRaider Nation unanimous Raiders got better from free agency with overwhelming favorite for most impactful signingIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsRaiders fans, sign up for FanPulse HERE!Free agency is a time of hope. That’s at least the case with every team going in. Coming out of it, however, that isn’t always the case. Some teams end up watching more free agents leave than they add, which can be frustrating for fans who always come into it thinking their team will retain their good players and make a play for the big names on the market.Even with there being no way every team can improve in free agency, it’s a rare thing that fans don’t find enough positives to have them saying they think their team got better. How do we know this? I mean, aside from ‘Gee, no shit, they’re fans’? Each NFL team blog on SB Nation put out a poll asking the fans if they thought their team improved this free agency. All but THREE had a majority say yes. And one of them was the Super Bowl champions, so there wasn’t really anywhere they could improve.The only two team blogs other than Pats Pulpit whose fans didn’t think their team improved in free agency were The Daily Norseman (Vikings) and Phinsider (Dolphins), when mathematically speaking, it’s more likely 50% of them didn’t improve. So Tim Brown Jersey , I guess, I’m saying take fan polling with a bit a grain of salt.That being said, there were a few teams’ fans who had no doubt whatsoever that their team has improved. The Browns, Jets, Titans, Lions, Colts, and, of course, Raiders all voted 100% in the poll.Unfortunately, the polling doesn’t have a way to keep their opinion of trades affecting their opinion of free agency, so they tend to get lumped together. No doubt the unanimous feelings that Browns and Raiders fans have derive from the trades each team made to acquire top receivers Odell Beckham Jr and Antonio Brown respectively.Even without including Antonio Brown in opinions of free agency, you can say the Raiders got better — even though for a 4-12 team, that may not be saying much. New holes the team have opened up at guard with the trade of Kelechi Osemele and tight end with Jared Cook signing with the Saints. Those are significant losses, make no mistake. But the additions outweigh them.There were had holes to fill all over the roster Ted Hendricks Jersey , most notably edge rusher, wide receiver, linebacker, offensive tackle, and defensive back.The only position that did not receive an infusion of talent was edge rusher. While that puts a bit of a dark cloud over the Raiders free agency as a whole, other need positions did get some attention. Along with Antonio Brown, the team added Tyrell Williams. That’s improvement over Jordy Nelson, who has retired.The Raiders signed a couple veteran linebackers in Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall. Both may or may not play major roles or even make the team, but the odds are good one of them will upgrade a lackluster unit.There is of course tackle Trent Brown, who helps out one of the worst tackle duos in the NFL last season. For that they made Brown the highest paid offensive lineman in history. The only long term deal handed out on defense went to Lamarcus Joyner who will play primarily nickel corner, but will at times line up at safety as well.So, which of these free agent signings will prove to be the most impactful? There was a fampulse poll for that too! And the answer overwhelmingly was Trent Brown, taking 70% of the vote. Burfict was second with 17% of the vote (Marshall had not been signed at the time of the survey), Tyrell Williams was third with 10.6% and somehow the least voted upon was Joyner with just 6.4% of the vote.While I don’t at all understand how Joyner could be so disrespected for what he brings to the team, I understand why Trent Brown would be considered the most impactful. The fans watched Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker give up some 30 sacks last season Dave Casper Jersey , so replacing either or both of them and potentially giving Derek Carr — who was sacked 51 times — much needed protection was crucial. If Brown’s addition could cut down that number by 10-15 sacks it would make a significant impact.Also see: Raiders missed out on trading fro Trent Brown last offseason, ‘betting on his upside’ nowFollow @LeviDamien After spending the 24th overall pick on Josh Jacobs in April’s draft there is little doubt who the Raiders are expecting to lead this year’s stable of runners.Behind Jacobs, Doug Martin is..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Raiders 2019 training camp bubble battle: DeAndre Washington vs Chris Warren IIINew,61commentsPDTAfter spending the 24th overall pick on Josh Jacobs in April’s draft there is little doubt who the Raiders are expecting to lead this year’s stable of runners.Behind Jacobs, Doug Martin is cemented as the number two running back and Jalen Richard’s role as receiving back should be safe after a very productive 2018 campaign.Should the Raiders decide to keep four running backs on the roster the battle for the final spot figures to be between two men:DeAndre Washington vs Chris Warren IIIWashington is entering his fourth year with the Raiders.Through his first three seasons the 5th round draft pick has totaled 735 yards rushing on 174 attempts and 321 yards receiving with 51 receptions.If you want to make a case for Washington to be on the roster a good place to start would be his versatility.He has dual threat ability as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield, something Gruden covets in his running backs.Washington has also demonstrated abilities to play special teams. The primary issue for Washington is Jalen Richard.Both are smaller backs with similar skill sets, Washington has not been able to separate himself from his backfield mate.Richard caught 68 balls in 2018 as the primary third down and passing situation back.Last season, Gruden expressed his admiration for Richard comparing him to former Raidersrunning back, Charlie Garner.Washington could be an insurance policy to Richard should an injury occur but that might not be reason enough to keep him on the 53.Chris Warren III made a name for himself during last year’s preseason when he led the NFL in rushing. A clip of Warren went viral during training camp when during joint practices with the Detroit Lions, Warren truck sticked linebacker Jarrad Davis. Warren is a bruiser, weighing in around the 250 pound mark.Sure it was only the preseason but Warren III definitely showed he has the ability to make an NFL roster.The Raiders felt so strongly about him that although he didn’t make the 53 man roster last summer he was stashed on the season ending IR with a knee injury.He is unique when compared with the other backs vying for a roster spot.He could be used in short yardage and goal-line situations, ala former Gruden grinders Zach Crockett or Mike Alstott. An area of concern with Warren is that he is more of a one trick pony.Because of his size and physicality he often wants to run through defenders.He needs to show he has enough speed to get to the edge along with being tough between the tackles.It was reported back in February that Warren had ballooned up to 270 pounds, if true hopefully he has gotten himself back into playing shape as training camp quickly approaches.Both Washington and Warren III will get plenty of opportunities throughout training camp and preseason.The battle for the fourth running back spot is one of the more intriguing storylines to follow during training camp.
