The Oakland Raiders have had quite the busy offseason and after starting training camp, general manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen have had a chance to re-evaluate the roster and with second round pick Menelik Watson dealing with an injury, the team signed lineman Andre Gurode to a contract.
The team brought in Gurode after he worked out for the team at training camp in Napa and gives the team some depth on the offensive line in case the injury to Watson is serious. McKenzie selected Watson with the intention of having him compete for a starting position and now Gurode could slide into that spot of his injury lingers into the preseason. Gurode has plenty of experience in the NFL after starting 127 games in his career and playing in 151 over 10 seasons and he previously made five Pro Bowls in a row.
Gurode played with the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens and has played both center and guard and he could be a valuable piece for the Raiders going forward. Last season he was with the Bears and never got on the field and his best times in the NFL was with Dallas when he made those Pro Bowls from 2006 to 2010. Last season the team ranked 28th in rushing yards per game and this year they are using a new running scheme and having an experienced lineman on the roster is only a plus at this point in camp with the preseason schedule still ahead.
The Raiders have questions at other positions as well, including wide receiver and now Andre Holmes has been suspended for four games this year after violating the performance enhancing drugs police for the NFL. Holmes came to the team after being claimed from the Patriots in May and he will be allowed to return to the team at the end of September and during his suspension he is allowed to participate in preseason practices as well as games.
The team needs other receivers to step up this season after losing Darrius Heyward-Bey and along with Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, rookie Brice Butler and free agent signee Josh Cribbs. Holmes comes in after making two catches for 11 yards last season in seven games with Dallas and depending on how the preseason goes he could have a chance to stick onto the roster, but the suspension could hurt him later if McKenzie likes what the other receivers do in camp. The position is very important since the team is breaking in a new starter with Matt Flynn and the more production from that group, the more successful Oakland will be this year.