NFL Free Agency: Oakland Raiders Should Consider These Undrafted Free Agents

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With the NFL collective bargaining agreement finally coming to fruition, many have talked about the frenzy that will be free agency. Many expect this lightning-paced event to bring a whole lot of rushed deals in order for teams to improve their squads. This is very true. However, not many have talked about the fallout with undrafted free agents.

For the Oakland Raiders, signing their own free agents—such as Zach Miller, Michael Bush and of course Nnamdi Asomugha—will be a very big deal. However, keep in mind this is a young team that is still building its foundation. The undrafted rookies may be behind the eight ball due to the lockout, but in the long run I believe these players will soon be household names early in their careers.

Due to the craziness of the CBA, undrafted free agency has not taken place at all. In my opinion, this class of UFAs may be the most talented in recent past. The Raiders still have holes to fill that may not be able to be filled through primary free agency.

Here are some names the Oakland Raiders should truly consider.

Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina

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For the Raiders, I believe you have to start at the safety position. Of all the years to not draft a safety, 2011 may have been the worst one.

Deunta Williams has Al Davis written all over him—6'2", 205 pounds, 4.4 speed. Only one phrase describes this guy: "ball hawk." He ranks second in his school's history in terms of interceptions with 12—six of them coming his junior season in 2009.

We all know the off-the-field issues North Carolina had this past season, and after suspension Williams still managed to rank sixth in tackles for his team.

Considered a solid fourth-round pick, Williams went undrafted primarily due to an ankle injury. I think the Raiders still need to take a chance on this prospect, and they have not been shy about investing in an injured player. Remember Michael Bush?

If you are the Oakland Raiders, you can't let this guy pass you by. Our safety positions are anything but safe. Our most promising safeties, Tyvon Branch and Mike Mitchell, play the same position at strong safety, and I'm not sure either of them is versatile enough to switch to free.

Fan favorite Stevie Brown is intriguing, but despite his preseason and limited regular season success, he still has a lot to learn. He wasn't even a true safety at Michigan and is going to be every bit as raw as any rookie coming into 2011.

Hiram Eugene got a pay raise, but does anyone truly believe he is the answer?

The AFC West is going to be crawling with productive safeties. The Raiders need to keep up.

Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston

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To be 100 percent honest, I'm not sure how much of a need Mark Herzlich may fill for the Oakland Raiders. They drafted a linebacker in the sixth round of the 2010 draft named Travis Goethel, who is every bit the athlete Herzlich is. Goethel was reported to be primed to start before he fell to a back injury at the very end of the preseason. I would keep an eye out for him in 2011 if I were you.

Also, there has been some speculation that the Raiders may be interested in bringing back Kirk Morrison to play his more natural position at outside linebacker.

So Herzlich may not be a huge priority, but this guy has the heart of a lion, and you can't have enough guys like that on your team.

When diagnosed with cancer, "experts" said his football career was in dire jeopardy and could very well be over for good. However, Herzlich came back his senior season to start in all 13 games.

In those games he ranked third on his team in tackles, second in interceptions with four and had five sacks, three of them being solo.

His story alone says "commitment to excellence."

Pat Devlin, QB, Delaware

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It seemed like Pat Devlin's draft stock went up and down throughout the entire draft process. First he was considered a solid second-round pick, then he was between a fourth- and fifth-round pick and on the actual draft day he went undrafted.

The Penn State transfer went to Delaware in 2009, where he was compared to Joe Flacco almost immediately. Flacco, in my opinion, is the superior prospect. His physical presence is a bit more dominant than Devlin's, Flacco being 6'6" compared to Devlin at 6'4". Flacco has the stronger arm, but Devlin's is nothing to sneeze at.

The biggest comparison between Flacco and Devlin is the ECAC Football Player of the Year Award. I like my quarterback to be a bit decorated. It may not be the Heisman, but for that conference I think that is a big deal.

In 2010 Devlin had his most productive season with 22 touchdowns to only three interceptions, a 151.6 passer rating and close to a 68 percent completion percentage.

I'm not sure how much of a connection Devlin may have with second-round pick Stefen Wisniewski, but if they do, you would think that would play a part in what the Raiders might do.

I'm not saying Devlin will be our quarterback of the future, but he can be the backup we need right now.

Maybe Hue Jackson can help Devlin the way he did Flacco.

Jarriel King, OT, South Carolina

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Obviously the offensive line is still a concern. The Raiders have a lot of young talent across the line, and a veteran lineman would be great right about now. I am a big fan of the offensive line coaching staff, so whoever the starting five is going to be, I have faith they will perform well.

However, depth is a huge concern for me. I'm not sure how the Raiders plan to back up their starters.

How about a guy like Jarriel King?

At 6'5", 317 pounds and versatile, King has played both tackle and guard and projects to be a primary guard in the NFL. He even played on defense in the early years of his college career.

Nothing too flashy about this guy. No huge performances, no outstanding awards—just a tough football player. I think you take a chance on this guy still because he can play across the line.

I think he can fit into this power scheme very well.

Pierre Allen, DE, Nebraska

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I love this defensive line. These guys get after the quarterback like no other. Still, I think depth may be a bit of a concern. Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston are going to be a duo that gives quarterbacks headaches, but we have to have backups that won't drop in production.

Pierre Allen was a part of a special defense in Nebraska alongside Ndamukong Suh and Prince Amukamara in the secondary. At 6'4", 273 pounds, with long arms, Allen is a true athlete. In 2010 he recorded 65 tackles and 3.5 sacks; those may not be headlining stats, but Allen was a part of a defense ranked second in the Big 12 and 11th nationally.

Obviously, Allen is going to have an uphill battle to make this team, but I think there is a spot for him. Quentin Groves showed some promise, but nothing that would cement his roster spot in 2011. Defensive end/linebacker tweener Trevor Scott has shown flashes, but you have to wonder if the injury he suffered in 2010 has him behind the eight ball headed into 2011.

Ray Dominguez, G, Arkansas

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I'm not the type to see a talented undrafted free agent and instantly assume he is going to become a starter. True, we have seen that happen before, but honestly, it is a rare find. However, a guy like Ray Dominguez could be that kind of player.

He would have to make the transition from tackle to guard, but 6'4" and 330 lbs. is the kind of run-blocking guard you want.

Playing in the SEC also makes this prospect an interesting one. I think we can all agree that the SEC is the closest thing to the NFL the college ranks has, and with Arkansas' pro-style offense, Dominguez may have an advantage.

I do question if the guard position intrigues Dominguez, because most tackles don't like making that switch. But if his love for football is as big as I think it is, I think he will do anything to make a NFL roster and prove that he can excel.