Twitter: Keith Smith To The Raiders

[Alexander]

Garrett prefers having a fullback on the roster

And Garrett's preference for that has cost us before.

Remember Lawrence Vickers?

 

[Mr Cowboy]

He would’ve took a hometown discount to stay too.

He lives and has been working out in San Jose, so he's home now. Perhaps he gave the Raiders the home discount.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Smith was an OK fullback, essentially a special-teammer that they found a position for because he wasn't good enough as a linebacker. Hopefully, this will force us to upgrade the position, but probably not.

Of course, I doubt we're going to find anyone that cheap in FA, so it will be up to a late-round pick or UDFA.

Smith could dig LB out of holes on running downs and had consistent hands. He wasn't Chuck Foreman but no one is these days.

He was the best FB we had in the past couple decades and one of the best in the league.

 

[gimmesix]

And Garrett's preference for that has cost us before.

Remember Lawrence Vickers?

There are mistakes any way we go about it, with far more made by our team on drafting tight ends early. There are fullbacks I've wanted in the past who would have enhanced the position, but we've done a poor job of finding them.

Imagine if we had spent a late-round pick on Vonta Leach in 2004 or John Kuhn in 2005. Getting Marcel Reece in 2008 also would have required a minimal investment. Mike Tolbert also was an undrafted free agent that we could have secured with a late-round pick. Same with Patrick DiMarco more recently.

Again, if you want to say phase out the fullback, I'm fine with going to an H-back-only offense and getting the best H-back we can get. But if we're going to use the fullback, then let's get one who is actually as much of a threat as possible when he's on the field.

 

[gimmesix]

Smith could dig LB out of holes on running downs and had consistent hands. He wasn't Chuck Foreman but no one is these days.

He was the best FB we had in the past couple decades and one of the best in the league.

I agree that he was one of the best we've had in a while. I think we should strive to do better.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Just another hole to fill.

Never fear, we have Jerry Jones coming to the rescue.

 

[cowboyblue22]

Raiders were 6-10 last year

they wont be that this year with gruden as the head coach

 

[vicjagger]

No, no, not a Smith! We can't spare one of those...

 

[windward]

Raiders were 6-10 last year

Facts: Do they matter?

 

[northerncowboynation]

Nice ST player. Could have tendered him. $2.9 millions for how many plays as a FB and ST player. Meh, better uses elsewhere

 

[Nightman]

Just for everyone's clarification, he does not qualify for a comp pick. He was an ERFA/RFA that was not tendered.

Thanks, I wasn't sure of that

2.1m might not rate anyways

 

[Nightman]

The blocking piece is what needs to be the concern, never really concentrated on that to see how he does there.

We don't run from the fullback position and he is good enough receiver though.

If they go this route, more "position flex".

Last year we kept 15 Rbs, TEs and WRs

That seemed excessive
5RBs
4TEs
6WRs

 

[Alexander]

Thanks, I wasn't sure of that

2.1m might not rate anyways

There were some people on Twitter that immediately praised the situation and started to talk about it. Then they realized they were wrong.

 

[MiddleStar]

2.1M ties him for 3rd as the highest priced FB

1. Kyle Juszczyk 5.2M
2. Ryan Hewitt 2.5M
3. Patrick DiMarco 2.1M


Kuhn, Tolbert, Line, and Coleman are all free agents and all made less than 1M.

I would have given Smith half of what he got at most.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I am more worried about them going after Ladouceur. They let Jon Condo go.

Crap!....that’s right.

 

[charron]

Just a ST player, can be replaced

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

they wont be that this year with gruden as the head coach

Agreed, they'll probably be worse.

 

[Beast_from_East]

He was a great FB, but of course this coaching staff never figured out how to use him in the running game very much.

LIke another poster said, he only played 11% of the offensive snaps last year.

I bet Chucky figures out how to use him more than 11% of the snaps.

 

[CalebTC84]

Happy for him. I let him get his payday. I'm not sure where the hate on the FO is coming from about this FA signing. Would you have wanted to pay Keith Smith this contract?

Cowboy fans are frustrated with the quiet week for Dallas with the glitz of free agent signings happening all across the NFL. The fact is we've done, IMO , three huge deals that made our team better for next season.

1. First priority we obviously tagged Lawrence for 17 million.

2. Tendered Irving for that second round draft pick with ability to match

3. Restructured Fredericks deal

I liked prioritizing those two defensive players first even though we had to give up paying Hitch and we lost him. But again... Would you have wanted to pay Hitch 9 million a season?!

With Fredericks deal we've put ourselves in a position to take a second look at FA. Let's see how Dez talks shake out.

 

[Section446]

That's too bad, I always liked him. Good for him for getting paid though.