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The Raiders have signed OT Fred Wakefield to a two year contract. Wakefield played in all 16 games (9 starts) for the Arizona Cardinals and he even caught 2 passes for 24 yards (12.0 avg). Look for the 6′7″, 319 pound lineman to really help out the porous offensive line of the Raiders in 2007.
The Raiders have signed fullback Justin Griffith to a 3 year, $3.8 million dollar contract. He played in 16 games (11 starts) for the Atlanta Falcons and he carried the ball 19 times for 106 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run. He also caught 23 passes for 168 yards (7.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs. Griffith is a good runner, receiver and blocker. He will help the Raiders really improve in the running game and short passing game. Another nice signing by the Raiders.
The Raiders have signed reserve TE Tony Stewart. Stewart played in all 16 games (3 starts) for the Cincinnati Bengals last season and he caught 14 passes for 120 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD catch. This was a nice depth signing for the Raiders.
The Raiders have signed Dominic Rhodes to a 2 year contract. It’s likely that Rhodes will split carries with Lamont Jordan and that could give the Raiders a solid running game if they get blocking up front. Rhodes played in all 16 games last season for the Colts and he carried the ball 187 times for 641 yards (3.4 ypc) with 5 TD runs. He also caught 36 passes for 251 yards (7.0 avg). The Raiders also put language in Rhodes’ contract to protect them in case he gets suspended by the NFL for the DUI he got earlier this year. This was a good signing for the Raiders.
Any time the Raiders sign an offensive lineman it is a good move so the signing of Newberry qualifies. He didn’t play any games last season because he was injured. In 9 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Newberry has started 90 games. Look for the 6′5″, 304 pound Newberry to have a good shot to win the starting center job for the Raiders.