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Grading The Deal: Walker Signs With Oakland
Authored by Andrew Perna - 13th March, 2008 - 12:13 pm
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The NFL’s thin wide receiver market got even more emaciated on Wednesday when the Oakland Raiders agreed to terms with Javon Walker.
Walker, who was released by the Denver Broncos on Feb. 29, signed a six-year, $55 million contract with Oakland. The Raiders will pay Walker $22 million during the first two years of the subtly front-loaded deal, with the receiver getting a $6 million signing bonus and $5 million in salary in both 2008 and 2009.
Walker enjoyed a career-year with the Packers in 2004, his third season in the NFL, when he caught 89 passes from Brett Favre for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. He followed his breakout season with a disappointing campaign in 2005 that ended in Week One after he tore the ACL in his right knee.
He signed with Denver in 2006, and returned to elite form with the Broncos. He played in all sixteen games and grabbed 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and 8 touchdowns during his first campaign in blue-and-orange. However, he suffered yet another injury-riddled year last season. He played in eight games for the Broncos in 2007, but was severely limited because of another right knee problem.
He caught 17 passes from Jay Cutler for 220 yards through the first two weeks of the season, but the lingering knee injury kept him from making a difference on the field over the final fourteen games. He finished the season with just 26 receptions for 287 yards and zero touchdowns.
While he has had problems remaining healthy during his six year career, he has missed twenty-four games since entering the NFL in 2002. However, he does possess the skills to become a big-play wide receiver in silver-and-black.
Signing with the Raiders allows Walker to stay within the same division, which could help ease both the learning curve and recovery process for the former Florida State star.
Oakland ranked thirtieth in the league in receiving last season, averaging just 180.8 yards through the air per game. The problem was compacted by a revolving-door situation at quarterback and a below-average stable of wide receivers.
Ronald Curry was the team’s leader target with 55 catches, 717 yards, and 4 touchdown receptions.
The Raiders used four different options at quarterback last season: Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, JaMarcus Russell, and Andrew Walter all lining up behind center.
Culpepper and McCown are both unrestricted free agents, and both have been rumored to be heading out of town. That leaves the Raiders to officially begin the Russell Era in Oakland, something fans and talking heads were calling for last season.
Signing a guy like Walker was imperative for the Raiders, who lost Jerry Porter to free agency, and as was already mentioned, didn’t have the most impressive lot of pass-catchers to begin with.
During Walker’s best season in 2004 with the Packers, he posted an FIC of 873. If he had posted similar numbers last season in Denver, he would have trailed only Terrell Owens, Larry Fitzgerald, Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne, and Randy Moss in terms of FIC production.
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If Walker can produce similarly this fall with the Raiders, Russell will have found himself a tremendous ally on offense in his first full season as a starting quarterback. The combination of Russell’s incredibly strong arm and the speed and skills of his newest receiver could make for quite the pairing. Of course, that all depends of the health of Walker’s knee.
It should also be noted that he wasn’t a complete bust with the Broncos.
Javon’s one successful season in Denver was a rather productive one. In 2006 he posted an FIC of 724, which would have put him in the top fifteen he had played on the same level for the Broncos last year.
Grade for the Raiders: B+
In order for this signing to really pay dividends for Oakland, they must fortify the rest of their offensive lineup. They might consider themselves set at QB and WR now, but Walker will need help downfield, and they could use a more consistent and talented running back. No offense, Mr. Huggy Bear.
If anything, Walker will post a very successful debut with the Raiders before needing a permanent training table at his new Oakland home.
Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him via e-mail (Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com) with comments or questions.
