I got thinking the other day for a team like the Raiders with the owner they have in Al Davis that the plan has always been to win now. But when you draft a qb with the first overall pick you are more or less admitting that the team isnt ready to win now. Especially when you have the philosophies of this team and the vertical game. But Ive heard more than once that Al was extremely upset with Art Shell for convincing him to take Michael Huff over Matt Leinart. Knowing that a rookie qb is gonna go through growing pains and that the team wouldnt be that good in 06. Had the Raiders taken Leinart they would have most certainly took Calvin Johnson instead of JaMarcus Russell and would have had 2 heads to a three headed monster which is needed for any dynamic offense. Bringing us to this year and the way the D dissapointed in 07 they still would be in the running for McFadden this year completing the three headed monster.
But since Huff was taken and Al was quoted as saying now I have to fix it when he fired Art Shell again. Drafting Russell the following year and than McFadden the Raiders are missing the gamebreaking receiver. Michael Crabtree will more than likely come out next season and could be worth a gander. But I dont think for an owner who finally decided to rebuild/reload by drafting Russell and McFadden that he is gonna rely on another unproven rookie to right this ship. I think it only makes sense for him/the Raiders to get an established game breaking receiver who is in the last year of his contract. There are only two names that come to mind for me. Anquain Boldin and Roy Wiliams. Boldin to me is perfect because of the west coast offense that Kiffin has. Big physical receiver who can go over the middle and free up some of the burners the Raiders have acquired in Carter and Higgins plus the Raiders love to draft speedy receivers year in and year out but if they have that big body like Boldin going over the middle somebody is gonna get open and more than likely its gonna be one of the burners because Boldin is gonna command double coverage. I wouldnt cry if the Raiders made a bid on Roy Williams either but I dont think he brings the same game in terms of going over the middle. Which the Raiders seriously need we where spoiled having receivers like Brown and Bilentkoff before him that where fearless going over the middle. Havent had a receiver ready to go over the middle since Brown retired.
I think this is part of the plan. The signing of Javon Walker was to me to (1) get ready to pay someone a lot of money (2) A one year rental if it doesnt go well. (3) A low risk high reward signing (with the fact that he has a chip on his shoulder with the way things went down with Denver and is literally on his last leg and he has a backloaded contract). Worse case scenario is that Walker busts and the Raiders have to trade for one of the receivers I mentioned. But I see them trading for one of the two I mentioned even if Walker knocks it out of the park. Because what else does this team really need? More oline help maybe but with Cable working his magic last year and having another year with at least a clue as to what hes in for can only make that unit stronger. I would go as far as to see the Raiders becoming a supreme powerhouse really really soon. Especially if Im right about them netting either Boldin or Williams I think in another year or two if Vernon Davis is still struggling in San Fran the Raiders scoop him up and put him opposite Miller and now there is a tight end tandem that is a feared as the rb and receiver and corner,lb and safety tandem this team possess.