6:40pm: The Raiders officially announced the deal, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets.
8:02am: The Raiders and wide receiver Andre Holmes reached an agreement on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport reports that the one-year pact can be worth up to $3MM, and includes $1MM in fully guaranteed money.
According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), the deal, as described by Rapoport, is the offer the Raiders have had on the table “for a while now.” Garafolo describes the incentives in the deal as very attainable, suggesting that Holmes has a decent chance to max out the value of the one-year pact.
Holmes, 27, has spent the last three seasons with the Raiders, enjoying his best year in 2014, when he set career highs by recording 47 receptions for 693 yards and four touchdowns. With Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper in the mix last season for the first time, Holmes saw his role reduced, catching just 14 balls for 201 yards, though he still found the end zone four times.
While Rod Streater is no longer in the mix in Oakland, having agreed to a deal with the division-rival Chiefs, the Raiders’ wide receiving corps in 2016 should look fairly similar to the 2015 unit. Crabtree, Cooper, and Holmes will all be back, as will promising youngster Seth Roberts, who had 32 catches in his rookie campaign.
Holmes reportedly drew some level of interest from the Eagles, Lions, Vikings, and Bengals before agreeing to stay with the Raiders.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I’m a little surprised to see him stay in Oakland given his diminished role last year. I really like his talent and thought a WR-needy team might give him an offer at least similar to what he got from Oakland, plus a chance for more playing time. Nice signing for the Raiders, even if he maxes out his incentives.