The Oakland Raiders have been an NFL doormat for a number of years and after brining in Reggie McKenzie as general manager the team has drastically improved its roster, especially in the secondary after adding free agent Charles Woodson and first round pick D.J. Hayden.
According to ESPN.com, Hayden is out of the hospital after dealing with abdominal surgery to remove scar tissue and while he will be out for a bit, he should have no issues returning before training camp. Hayden was taken with the 12th pick in the draft by the Raiders after the team traded down with the Miami Dolphins and many teams passed on the corner due to his health risks. Hayden almost died from an injury after having surgery last November to repair a tear of the inferior vena cava after being hurt in practice. Doctors were able to save him after cutting through his sternum and while Raiders doctors cleared him, the new surgery makes the pick a gamble for McKenzie, who is hoping to greatly improve the Raiders secondary in 2013.
McKenzie got rid of a number of veterans after cutting top picks like Michael Huff and Darrius Heyward-Bey and he added a number of veterans to the squad, including Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett at linebacker, as well as Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter and Charles Woodson in the secondary. Woodson returned to the team after years with the Packers and after he flirted with the Broncos in Denver, he decided to sign on with the Raiders again.
Both Woodson and Hayden are expected to play big parts for the team and Hayden should have the chance to learn the defensive scheme behind the two veterans. Porter and Jenkins can starts right away and while the team is hoping to get Hayden into the starting lineup as well, they may take it easy with him as he recovers from surgery. The team ranked 20th in the league in passing yards per game and McKenzie is hoping that the moves in the offseason will help move that number up to at least the top half of the league.
The Raider are expecting big improvements after going just 4-12 and after trading for quarterback Matt Flynn in the offseason they think that the roster is ready for a jump. The team may need some more weapons at wideout as the season gets closer, but if Darren McFadden can stay healthy, the team should improve. The AFC West should have some of the best secondary play in the league after Woodson and Hayden joined the Raiders and another reason is due to Denver, who signed free agent Quentin Jammer to add to their deep roster of talent.
Denver already has one of the best corners in Champ Bailey and now with Jammer in the fold he joins newly signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and third-round draft pick Kayvon Webster on the depth chart, giving the team a number of options in various sets. Jammer has been a consistent player throughout his career and he has missed just three starts since becoming a starter in San Diego in 2003.