Reggie McKenzie

AFC Notes: Carr, Raiders, Gillislee, Patriots

April 22nd, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier this week that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wants to wrap up extension talks by the beginning of training camp. General manager Reggie McKenzie stated yesterday that he’d prefer to get a new contract wrapped up as soon as possible, and he expressed optimism that the two sides could come to an agreement.

“I feel good about it,” McKenzie said (via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com). “When both sides want to get it done, that’s a great first step. I’m looking forward to getting it done by then.”

Carr had another productive season in 2016, completing 63.8-percent of his passes for 3,937 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the AFC…

Aldon Smith is still under contract with the Raiders, although the linebacker hasn’t taken the field in more than a year after having violated the league’s substance abuse policy. The NFL hasn’t made any move to reinstate the embattled player, and McKenzie isn’t expecting a resolution anytime soon. “Our thought process is on the draft and not considering Aldon at this point,” McKenzie said (via Bair). “He’s still on the suspension list, so we’re not considering him at this point.”
Last offseason, when the Patriots signed restricted free agent wideout Chris Hogan, the Bills immediately made it clear that they wouldn’t be matching the contract. However, Buffalo has taken their time deciding what to do with running back Mike Gillislee, who signed an offer sheet with New England earlier this week. ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss wonders if the delay could be an indication that the Bills are strongly considering matching the offer.
Following the death of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, legal analyst (and ESPN.com writer) Lester Munson writes that the organization may be required to pay his family “a significant sum of money.” The NFLPA says there are “three outstanding grievances” between Hernandez and the Patriots stemming from the team’s refusal to pay the player’s $3.25MM bonus following his initial arrest. “How these are resolved will determine” whether Hernandez’s family will ultimately receive any money from the Patriots.

AFC West Notes: McKenzie, Chargers, Sanchez

July 30th, 2016 at 4:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

On the heels of his four-year extension, Reggie McKenzie will be ready to discuss extensions for Khalil Mack and Derek Carr after this season, when the 2014 draft choices become eligible to negotiate long-term contracts with the Raiders. The fifth-year Oakland GM said there has been a “constant dialogue” with the two standouts’ representatives, ones who profile as the best players the Raiders have had the opportunity to extend in many years.

“The plan is to keep good players,” McKenzie told media, including Jerry McDonald of Ibabuzz.com. “Y’all could come beat me across the head if I let a Hall of Fame-type player leave this building. I’ll take [their agents] out to dinner any time I see him. We’ve fostered good relationships.”

McKenzie’s most recent offseason — one that featured the most notable Raiders free agent signings this decade in Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin and others — centered around free agency, but in 2017, Mack, Carr and Gabe Jackson become extension-eligible. Both Carr and Mack could soon be $20MM-per-year players, McDonald estimates.

Here’s more from the Raiders, along with the rest of the AFC West.

One of McKenzie’s free agent signings hasn’t worked out on the field, but the GM said the Raiders plan to stick by Aldon Smith despite his pattern of unavailability, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com reports. McKenzie did describe the sixth-year player’s situation as an “uphill battle,” though. “We knew his situation,” McKenzie said. “It’s not like we had blinders on. Going into last year, we knew a suspension was probable. It’s going to be an uphill battle for him. He’s going to have to fight the good fight, but we’re not going to bail on him. He has to do his part.” Oakland has now signed the mercurial pass-rusher twice in two seasons and could see the second commitment fail to result in any Smith playing time this season. The former 49ers All-Pro checked himself into rehab earlier this week.
McKenzie’s decision to cut bait on disappointing former first-round picks Michael Huff, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Rolando McClain, while absorbing a $13.7MM dead-money hit upon releasing Richard Seymour, helped the Raiders’ rebuild in 2013, Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News writes. Those releases comprised part of the reason the Raiders held so much cap space the past two offseasons.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce endorsed the Chargers‘ downtown stadium initiative, Roger Showley of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. However, the backing might not mean too much since the measure, as of now, needs a two-thirds majority to pass in November.
That prospect remains a long-odds proposition, Union-Tribune’s Logan Jenkins points out. Jenkins doesn’t envision the measure passing at 50%. The California Supreme Court’s recent decision to review an appellate court’s ruling requires the measure to receive a two-thirds majority to pass. That 66.6% number is not finalized, however. Jenkins adds that the Chargers’ preferred downtown stadium not being likely to pass opens the door to a compromise in the form of a renovated Qualcomm Stadium. While the team’s efforts are being put into moving downtown, the Chargers will have options of becoming the Rams’ tenants in Los Angeles or making it work at their current Mission Valley site. Jenkins writes the latter choice would work out best for the Chargers’ standing in the community, staying in San Diego and not forcing what seems to be a largely unwanted downtown measure on taxpayers. A move to L.A. could decimate their fanbase as well, with the Rams having already set up shop there and the Chargers having essentially no footprint in the city.
Eric Fisher‘s contract extension — one that tacks on four years and $48MM to the left tackle’s deal — doubles as a huge leap of faith by the Chiefs, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes. Teicher points out the 6-foot-7 blocker from mid-major Central Michigan has been even more of a project than the franchise thought he’d be and that the team is rewarding Fisher for future performance as opposed to the modest production he’s shown.
Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian split first-team reps at Broncos practice Saturday, although the veteran’s command in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage is noticeable, Troy Renck of TheDenverChannel.com reports. Paxton Lynch took reps with the third team, per Renck.

Raiders Extend GM Reggie McKenzie

July 30th, 2016 at 9:20am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Raiders have signed general manager Reggie McKenzie to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2021 draft, owner Mark Davis announced Friday night. McKenzie is the third GM this week to receive a four-year extension, joining the Seahawks’ John Schneider and the Texans’ Rick Smith.

“Reggie’s contract was up at the end of this year, and we felt was time to reward him for the job that he has done,” said Davis.

The 53-year-old McKenzie, who was an NFL linebacker (including a stint with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1985-88) before serving as the longtime director of player personnel in Green Bay, took the reins as Oakland’s GM in 2012. While McKenzie inherited a team that finished a respectable 8-8 the previous season, its cap situation was nightmarish and its first draft pick wasn’t until the third round, 95th overall. Thanks in part to those factors, and McKenzie’s ill-advised choice to hire Dennis Allen as the Raiders’ head coach, the club spiraled to 4-12 in the executive’s first season at the helm.

McKenzie then had a full complement of draft picks in 2013, though the 10-player class hasn’t produced any high-impact players aside from sixth-round running back Latavius Murray. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder debuted in 2014 and has combined for 1,490 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, also adding 58 receptions.

McKenzie’s drafts truly began bearing fruit in 2014 and 2015, with both classes coming after bottom-of-the-barrel seasons. The Raiders landed defensive end Khalil Mack, among the league’s premier players on either side of the ball, with the fifth selection in 2014 before grabbing quarterback Derek Carr (No. 36) and guard Gabe Jackson (No. 81) in the second and third rounds. Mack totaled a whopping 15 sacks, second only to Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, last season. Carr tossed 32 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and now looks like Oakland’s first true solution under center since the Rich Gannon era. Jackson, meanwhile, has started in 28 of 29 appearances and ranked 13th among 81 qualified guards at Pro Football Focus for his work in 2015.

McKenzie added to those three core players in last year’s draft, most notably with first-round receiver Amari Cooper (No. 4 overall). The ex-Alabama star hauled in 72 passes for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, and it appears he and Carr will combine to form one of the league’s most threatening duos through the air for the foreseeable future.

With the help of those integral cogs – not to mention McKenzie’s second head coaching hire, Jack Del Rio, and pickups like cornerback David Amerson (waivers), receiver Michael Crabtree (free agency), punter Marquette King (undrafted free agency) and defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (second round, 2015) – the McKenzie-built Raiders finally made progress in the win column last season. On the heels of a 7-9 showing, the Raiders’ best since 2011, McKenzie took advantage of a great cap situation and signed guard Kelechi Osemele, linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson to sizable deals in free agency. He also re-signed stalwart left tackle Donald Penn and picked up seven more players via the draft, with first-round safety Karl Joseph headlining the class.

Thanks to the mix of highly talented youth and established veterans McKenzie has acquired, the Raiders look as if they’ll soon break their lengthy run of futility. Oakland hasn’t posted a winning record in a season since 2002, when it won the AFC, and has gone 13 years without a playoff berth. Although the 18-46 mark the Raiders have produced under McKenzie suggests he didn’t merit an extension, the foundation he has put in place indicates otherwise.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: Browns, Titans, Steelers, Raiders

March 25th, 2015 at 7:44pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

ESPN reports that Browns officials were told at this week’s owners meetings that the team will face “severe” discipline for violating an NFL policy. Cleveland will be punished for the actions of general manager Ray Farmer, who admitted to sending text messages (reportedly to members of the club’s sideline) during games last season. That violates the league’s electronic device policy, and it could cost the Browns in the form of fines or the loss of draft picks. The extent of the Browns’ punishment will be announced next week.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets that the odds of the Steelers extending the contract of defensive end Cameron Heyward prior to the season are “100%.” Heyward will make just under $7MM in 2015, the last year of his deal, and could hit free agency in 2016. The four-year veteran finished last season with a career-high 7.5 sacks, giving him 15 since entering the league in 2011. The former first-round pick has appeared in all 64 of Pittsburgh’s regular-season games since he joined the club, and has finished in the top 20 of Pro Football Focus’ ranking system (subscription required) for 3-4 defensive ends three straight years.
Linebacker James Harrison seems to regard his recent decision to re-sign with the Steelers as bittersweet. The Titans were also vying for Harrison’s services, and choosing Pittsburgh over Tennessee means he won’t get to continue working under defensive guru Dick LeBeau. The 77-year-old left the Steelers after 11 seasons and joined the Titans’ staff in February. “You don’t want to let (coach LeBeau) down, you want to be loyal to him to a fault,” Harrison said on the “Ike Taylor Show,” according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “It came down to I had to take a step back and look at it and it was a business. Both offers being the same, it wasn’t a good business move to go to Tennessee because I would have to uproot everything and I already had everything in Pittsburgh combined with the fact my legacy is in Pittsburgh.”
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie isn’t content with his team’s offensive line. “I don’t have enough offensive linemen on the roster. I want to bring some good ones in,” McKenzie said, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. The Raiders’ biggest O-line need is at right guard, an area they could address in the upcoming draft. “Right guard is going to be a competitive situation in camp,” said new head coach Jack Del Rio.

McKenzie, Woodson On Raiders’ Offseason

March 15th, 2015 at 9:43am CST by Rory Parks

The Raiders, armed with a boatload of cap space, had hoped to make a big splash in free agency. They wanted Ndamukong Suh, they wanted DeMarco Murray, and they wanted Randall Cobb, among others. But while the Raiders were unable to land the biggest of the big names, they have acquired a number of quality players that should give the team a lift in 2015. Rodney Hudson is one of the league’s best centers, and Dan Williams and Curtis Lofton will give the front seven a much-needed boost. Roy Helu, meanwhile, has a ton of upside and could be one of the offseason’s biggest steals.

At the Raiders’ Commitment to Excellence dinner honoring free safety Charles Woodson last night, GM Reggie McKenzie and Woodson himself spoke about what the team has accomplished so far. Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group passes along a few interesting notes on what those two had to say (all links go to Twitter, unless otherwise noted):

McKenzie said that the plan this offseason was to acquire younger players who are still in their prime years. Last year, of course, the Raiders targeted older players who could provide leadership and help to change the team’s culture.
The older players that were acquired last season largely served their purpose, and some, like Donald Penn, Justin Tuck, and Woodson were retained, as they are still capable contributors. Otherwise, Oakland sought young “starter-types.”
Confirming what we had already learned, McKenzie said the team did make a strong push Suh but will not pursue Greg Hardy.
McKenzie spoke specifically about Hudson and new safety Nate Allen. He said that the Raiders jumped at the chance to sign Hudson, who is a skilled pass-blocker and run-blocker, and he cited Allen’s range, versatility, and instincts as the major factors in his signing.
Both McKenzie and Woodson spoke of the positive energy that the new acquisitions bring with them, and Woodson discussed how a staff assembled of former players contribute to that energy.
Woodson added that he helped to recruit a few of the team’s new additions, though most of them had already agreed to terms.
In a full-length piece, McDonald provides a quote from Woodson that accurately summarizes the team’s offseason: “There’s no question that Suh would have been huge. He would have been a great addition to the team,” Woodson said. “At the same time, if you don’t get a Suh, you can get three or four other players to make up for it. And what that does is build depth.”
For his part, McDonald tweets that this free agent class could end up being a great one, just like last year’s draft class. Given the quality of the signings and the impact they should have on the team’s overall depth, it appears McDonald’s optimism is well-founded.

Raiders Notes: Rogers, Brown, Branch

February 18th, 2015 at 6:09pm CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie sat down with reporters for a 30 minute chat. He told the press on hand, including Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter) that the Raiders will let both Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown hit the open market as they look to go younger at cornerback. Here are some of the highlights from McKenzie’s chat..

Safety Tyvon Branch has an uncertain future with the Raiders. McKenzie says that he plans to speak with his agent soon to discuss different possibilities, Bair tweets. Branch, under contract through 2017, is due a $1MM roster bonus in March. He has missed almost two entire years thanks to injury.
Even with a starter’s salary, McKenzie said it isn’t out of the question for Matt Schaub to return as a backup, Jerry McDonald of The Oakland Tribune tweets. Schaub is scheduled to earn a $5.5MM base salary and Derek Carr in place as the team’s starter. It seems likely that he could get let go if he was unwilling to restructure.
Talks are ongoing with center Stefen Wisniewski but McKenzie wouldn’t make promises either way, Williamson tweets.
Coach Jack Del Rio told reporters that Austin Howard, who struggled at guard in 2014, will compete with third-year player Menelik Watson at right tackle, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. That could mean that Oakland will be shopping for a guard this offseason.
In no particular order, it seems like McKenzie will be looking at running back, wide receiver, guard, defensive end, defensive tackle, and middle linebacker, Williamson tweets.
The GM said that the Raiders could sign multiple starter quality players, Williamson tweets.

AFC West Notes: Kubiak, Manning, Raiders

January 20th, 2015 at 1:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos introduced head coach Gary Kubiak to the media today, and while there’s been some speculation that it might not be the most compatible of marriages, given the differences between Kubiak’s offense and the record-setting group in Denver, the new coach downplayed that notion.

“We actually teach everything,” Kubiak said (Twitter links via the Denver Post). “We’re going to do what the players do best, what this team does best. We’re going to run the Denver Broncos offense, not Gary Kubiak’s offense.”

Here’s more from Kubiak’s presser and from out of the AFC West:

Having previously announced that he intended to stay with the Ravens, Kubiak said today that the Broncos‘ head coaching job was the only one he would’ve considered. “I was very comfortable saying ‘No, I’m going to continue this path that I’m on,'” Kubiak said. “But this was a game-changer. Simple as that” (Twitter links).
Kubiak confirmed that he has already talked to Peyton Manning via text message, stressing that he’ll be there in “any way he can” for the Broncos quarterback as he makes his decision (Twitter links). As Mike Klis of the Denver Post details, Manning will have to make his final decision on whether to play in 2015 by March 9, since his salary becomes fully guaranteed the next day.
Broncos general manager John Elway confirmed today that Kubiak will have a “huge influence” on the club’s decisions in free agency (Twitter link).
Despite the fact that the Raiders are 11-37 during his three seasons as general manager, Reggie McKenzie appears to have plenty of job security, writes Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Asked about McKenzie’s status this week, owner Mark Davis said, “He’s got a contract for two more years; that’s pretty secure.”
Eric Mangini‘s interview with the Raiders for the team’s defensive coordinator position is taking place today, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Raiders Notes: McKenzie, Sparano, Davis

December 28th, 2014 at 1:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

With reports that Jim Harbaugh is close to accepting the head coaching position at the University of Michigan, the Raiders look like they will miss out on their top candidate. Let’s look at what Oakland might choose to do as it shifts it focus from Harbaugh…

Owner Mark Davis tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that GM Reggie McKenzie will assist in head coaching interviews, which will begin on Monday. This seems to be a clear indication that McKenzie’s job is safe, something that FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo agrees with (on Twitter).
Another reason that McKenzie could be in the clear: he has two years remaining on his original five-year contract, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Oakland would be forced to pay the remainder of his salary in the event it fired him.
Financial obligation isn’t the only thing working in McKenzie’s favor, tweets Joel Corry of CBS Sports. Per Corry, McKenzie expertly maneuvered the Raiders’ deconstruction, leaving the Raiders with the second-most 2015 cap space, and hit on his 2014 draft picks, though he could afford to find better values in free agency.
On the coaching front, interim HC Tony Sparano wants to return, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter), and Garfolo tweets the “drumbeat…is strong” for Sparano within the Raiders organization.
Sparano will be granted the opportunity to interview for the full-time job, per Rapoport (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Titans, Morgan, McKenzie

December 22nd, 2014 at 5:06pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Titans are 2-13, and looking at a very high draft pick this offseason, but they also have a number of contributors who are set to hit free agency at the end of the year. Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com takes a look at a 16 players who the Titans will make decisions on, and gives an idea of whether the team will try to keep them.

Notably, he writes that Michael Roos would probably not sign even if the Titans wanted to keep him. With Taylor Lewan taking over at left tackle, Roos would likely find work elsewhere rather than make the transition to right tackle. Jake Locker is another player who isn’t expected to return, although his is a case of the team not being interested.

Kuharsky doesn’t pick out many players the team would have to keep, aside from Derrick Morgan, but most of the list are players who can contribute but are not vital to the operation, much as one would expect from a two-win team.

Here are some other notes from around the league:

While Morgan is probably the best player on the Titans that is hitting free agency, he has said that the team has not approached him at all regarding an extension, according to Terry McCormack of TitansInsider.com (via Twitter). Kuharsky wrote that Morgan adjusted well to the 3-4 defense, but could pursue a return to a 4-3 in free agency.
Raiders‘ general manager Reggie McKenzie has had a tumultuous season, in which he fired head coach Dennis Allen and heard rumors that his own job may be in jeopardy. However, he believes that he has built a foundation in Oakland, highlighted by rookies Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, writes Vic Tafur of SFGate.com. “Derek and Khalil stopped being rookies a little while back. Now they are veteran players. They can carry this into next season and help build this team into winners,” said McKenzie. “They’ve shown their teammates who they are as players and men off the field, and they’re definitely guys everybody can count on.”
The Panthers have activated defensive end Frank Alexander for this week’s matchup against the Falcons, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). Alexander is coming off a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The move was expected after the team decided not to activate him in time for the Browns’ game on Sunday.

Raiders To Make Sweeping Changes?

December 14th, 2014 at 9:55am CST by Rory Parks

The Raiders are preparing to make sweeping changes, changes that involve current GM Reggie McKenzie, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter, citing league sources, added that owner Mark Davis is “getting ready to spend.”

Of course, McKenzie has been on the hot seat for some time, and the Raiders have been connected in numerous reports to current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. They have also been reportedly interested in relocating to Los Angeles or even San Antonio. Furthermore, according to OverTheCap.com, Oakland is expected to have the most salary cap space of any team in the league this offseason, so Davis certainly will have money to spend.

As such, Schefter’s tweet probably does not come as much of a surprise to anyone, as the Raiders have been at least contemplating “sweeping changes” for a long time. It does indicate, however, that team officials have fully embraced the possibility of yet another major shakeup in Oakland (or Los Angeles, or somewhere else entirely).

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