Oakland Raiders: Grading Out the Free Agent Class So Far
By Kevin Saito
Nov 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Washington Redskins running back Roy Helu (29) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Given the dogged pursuit of DeMarco Murray the last couple of days, you would have thought that running back was a glaring area of need for the Raiders.
There are questions about Latavius Murray and his durability. Will he be able to perform over a 16 game season without breaking down? Were the flashes of greatness we saw last season just flashes, or an indicator of even more greatness in his future?
Dec 28, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Roy Helu (29) carries the ball as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) tackles in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Though there are questions, those could have been answered through the draft. It caught a lot of people by surprise when the Raiders signed Roy Helu away from Washington on a two year, $4 million dollar deal.
He’ll be a good change of pace back, and he’ll provide some shiftiness and elusiveness out of the backfield, not to mention the fact that he’ll be a very reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, giving Carr another weapon to utilize, but he wasn’t a necessity signing. At the time his deal was announced, it almost felt like McKenzie making a signing simply for the sake of signing somebody.
Helu’s versatility will add a nice dimension to the Raiders’ offense. And he will give Carr a terrific safety valve should he need to dump a ball off. But there were other options – such as Marcel Reece.
It’s not a bad signing per se, but it wasn’t a glaring need either. Not one that couldn’t have been addressed in the draft.
GRADE: C
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