The Oakland Raiders are putting finishing touches on their rookies to get them all signed and into training camp and after taking care of Tyler Wilson, the team signed second round pick Menelik Watson from Florida State to a deal.
According to Pro Football Talk, Watson was signed on Wednesday and the report says that he will be in camp on Thursday for practice starting Friday. The team is meeting in Napa for training camp and after signing fourth round pick Tyler Wilson, DJ Hayden from the first round it the only one left unsigned. Watson signed after being the 42nd pick in the draft, while Hayden was the 12th pick.
The Raiders already signed Wilson, Brice Butler, Latavius Murray and Nick Kasa and now they will try and get Hayden into camp as well, although it isn't as urgent because he is still recovering from surgery. Watson marks the ninth pick to sign with the Raiders.
Watson was selected by general manager Reggie McKenzie in the second round and he will be expected to challenge for a starting job in training camp once he signs his rookie deal. Watson was in camp earlier in the offseason with the Raiders and he will be joined by Okoye in the Bay Area, as he was signed as an undrafted free agent by head coach Jim Harbaugh. Watson came from a tough background and his improbable rise to the NFL he has been able to appreciate his humble beginnings. The 24-year-old was taken with the 42nd pick in the draft as the highest-drafted player ever from Britain and he only started playing the sport in 2011, meaning he has had a quick time to adjust to American football.
The Raiders are expecting to be an improved team in 2013 after bringing in a number of free agents and while Watson has not been able to work much with veteran Charles Woodson, but he said the addition of the former Oakland star has been a positive influence on the team. Woodson was brought in with a solid free agent crop by McKenzie with Tracy Porter, Mike Jenkins, Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett and all that adds depth and talent to a defense that ranked 20th and 18th in rushing and passing yards allowed per game last season.
The Raiders went 4-12 last season and Watson said that he likes the weather in Oakland compared to Manchester and that he has been losing up on carbs and protein with chicken and beef. Oakland are expecting to make the playoffs this season and while the Raiders have more ground to make up, Watson feels that the team is ready to take the next step after making a number of good moves in the offseason.
