Raiders in Play for OT Jared Gaither

RaiderNation · 04-02-2010, 04:48 PM

http://tfdssports.com/2010-articles/...t-gaither.html

Quote:

The Ravens are shopping their starting offensive tackle Jared Gaither these days and have reportedly lowered their asking price. This according to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com. And the Raiders are a possible trade partner.

The Ravens slapped a first round tender on the restrictred free agent but are now taking offers for a high second round pick. The Raiders have a high second round pick to offer (39 overall) so it becomes a situation where extreme need and ideal compensation meet. There is also the coaching connection with Hue Jackson having come over from the Ravens as the Raiders new offensive coordinator. He could be the connecting fibers that allows this deal to get done.

It is no secret that the Raiders are desperate for a solid right tackle.Cornell Green was not doing the job and has since been allowed to leave(some say he was put out to pasture to assault Buffalo with a mop handle). Khalif Barnes showed last season that he is not the answer to replace him. Gaither would be a huge upgrade over either of them.

ESPN has also reported on the Raiders' possible interest in acquiring Gaither

Makes sense with Hue Jackson as our OC coming from Baltimore. Has the great size that will catch Al's eye and he is still young. Allows us to not go OT at 8 and address another need with a top 10 pick.

619 · 04-02-2010, 04:58 PM

He's got his own character concerns, though I don't think that should matter for us given the current state of our organization. We need more franchise building blocks, especially on the offensive side, and there's no question the offensive line is where we should utilize our high draft picks, not the QB position, at least until everything else is steady and in place. We arguably need Gaither as badly as anyone else in the league does.

RaiderNation · 04-02-2010, 05:02 PM

If we do end up with Gaither trading 39, I wonder what we will do at 8. Maybe this opens up to us taking Spiller since he might be our BPA accoridng to Al

619 · 04-02-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaiderNation

If we do end up with Gaither trading 39, I wonder what we will do at 8. Maybe this opens up to us taking Spiller since he might be our BPA accoridng to Al

OMG, I may never agree with Al Davis' decisions as much as I would if this all went down.

EvilNixon · 04-02-2010, 05:04 PM

We might finally have a LT =). Move Henderson to RT, and draft Pouncey with 8, and our line could become the strength of the offense. IMO

RaiderNation · 04-02-2010, 05:39 PM

Im sorry but Pouncey at 8 would be dumb. Pouncey is a great prospect but center is not a position you spend a high pick and that type of money on. Maybe we trade down to the teens and Id be alright with it. We could get JD Walton or Tennant in the 3rd or 4th who are both cabable starters

619 · 04-02-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaiderNation

Im sorry but Pouncey at 8 would be dumb. Pouncey is a great prospect but center is not a position you spend a high pick and that type of money on. Maybe we trade down to the teens and Id be alright with it. We could get JD Walton or Tennant in the 3rd or 4th who are both cabable starters

I agree with what you say, and there's no getting around the fact that Pouncey would be a reach in the top 10 no matter how elite of a prospect he turned out to be. At the same, don't expect Walton or Tennant to solve our woes at that position long-term, because they're not the overly powerful players required to man up against the big nose tackles in our division.

All things considered, Spiller is the pick I want, even if there are greater needs. Spiller as much as anyone else in this draft can get things done on his own; he's a very special prospect in that sense. Just look at the rest of the talent on the Clemson offense that surrounded him last year.

NIN1984 · 04-03-2010, 10:07 AM

With the rumors about the Giants wanting McClain it wouild be perfect for us. We can swap with NY go to 15 and draft Pouncey but watch him to go Denver at 11, lol.

Komp · 04-04-2010, 10:54 AM

I don't mind using our 2nd for Gaither as we need so much help along the line and Gaither would come in and immediately be our best OL and he is still young and healthy. Gaither/Gallery would be an absolutely nasty left side of the line.

The only problem is that it may leave us with an issue at who to take at #8 if JPP is gone (McClain?)