Walker Staying in the West
JaMarcus to Javon is a nice combo for OAK
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
By Victor Cotto Raiderfans.net Staff Columnist
Javon Walker - WR - Oakland Raiders
As first reported in the PREMIUM SECTION of Raiderfans.net,
Javon Walker appears to be the newest member of the Oakland Raiders.
The 29-year old wide receiver is expected to join a team in dire need of targets for their strong-armed young quarterback. After the departure of Jerry Porter, the Raiders were very thin at wide receiver, leaving them with
Ronald Curry as their lone returning pass catcher with any NFL experience.
Walker immediately bolsters a passing attack that ranked 31st in the NFL. In 2007, Walker compiled 17-receptions for 220-yards in Denver’s first two contests before injuries sidelined him for the majority of the season, while leaving him ineffective as the campaign wound down.
After the season, comments Walker made regarding his future foreshadowed an impending exit.
"It's not that they don't want me here, but I just don't think it's the best fit for me," Walker said in late December.
The Broncos avoided a $5.4 million option bonus that was due to Walker on March 4 when they released him last weekend.
A former first round draft selection of the Green Bay Packers, Walker has compiled 252 career receptions in 72 league games for 3,815 yards.
Denver acquired Walker for a 2nd round draft selection and immediately compensated him with a five-year deal worth more than $40 million. In 2006, he had a bounce back season amassing 1,084 yards receiving while hauling in 8 touchdowns.
Terms of the deal with the Raiders have not been disclosed, but ESPN is reporting that the contract is worth $55 millon over six-years, including $16 million in guarantees.
OUTLOOK:
JaMarcus Russell needed help – so the Raiders went out and got it.
After the departure of Porter, it was imperative for the Raiders to attain an experienced playmaker that can exploit the talents of their young signal caller.
Walker is a solid route runner who has the ability to stretch the field. Pairing up with
Ronald Curry will help Oakland work the entire football field, as both posses’ qualities that compliment each other. Curry can work the middle of the field, find the soft spots in the zone and move the chains with intermediate range completions. Walker can get vertical and is a playmaker when the football is in hands. With Zach Miller in the mix, the Raiders are beginning to create a diverse offense for their ‘franchise passer.’
Chad Johnson would have been a pricey alternative that Oakland could not afford. They don’t have enough draft selections to strike such a deal and other targets that may have been alternatives via trade (i.e Roy Williams, Larry Fitzgerald) were just pipe dreams. In the free-agent market, Bernard Berrian was the best out of a weak crop. Oakland would have loved to fly him in for a visit, but the Vikings locked him up and presented an offer Berrian couldn’t refuse.
Oakland may have landed a player that will be motivated, refreshed and ready to get back to his productive ways. Yes injuries are a concern, but considering the lack of true 'go to' targets in the free-agent market, Walker may be a calculated risk that has more of an upside than any of the other complimentary receivers that are still available. After enduring the death of a teammate and trying to recoup from injuries, Walker will get a new start.
Not only will he add an element that has been missing in Oakland’s aerial attack, but he will add some more spice to an already heated rivalry in the AFC West.
IN OTHER NEWS…
According to a report by the NFL Network, Oakland also added former 49er Kwame Harris with a three-year, $16 million deal.
Harris has struggled most of his career since being selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. After the release of Barry Sims, it’s expected that Harris will compete for the opening at left tackle along with 2nd year pro Mario Henderson and others.
Tom Cable will be in his 2nd year as offensive line coach. And after immediate success implementing his zone blocking scheme which helped the Raiders cut down on their league leading sack totals of 2006 while helping to facilitate one of the better rush games in the league, the Raiders hope that Cable’s schemes will fit the former Stanford standout.