Vincent Brown to Raiders: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Fantasy Reaction

Updates from Tuesday, Sept. 16

The Raiders made the signing official on Tuesday:

Original Text

The Oakland Raiders have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent wide receiver Vincent Brown.

Adam Caplan of ESPN reported the news on Monday:

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed the signing through a source and offered his analysis:

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and the team's scouting department had to have gotten a good look at Brown when he played for the San Diego Chargers.   

Before Monday's reported signing, the San Jose Mercury News' Steve Corkran indicated that Oakland had brought Brown in for a workout. Then Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com provided an insider update:

Brown, 25, had 41 receptions for 472 yards and a touchdown last season in San Diego. However, he was waived before the regular season began with an injury settlement, according to ProFootballTalk.com's Michael David Smith.

Tom Telesco, GM of the Chargers, commented on Brown's departure after the wideout had missed the preseason with a calf injury and brought forth a difficult dilemma with his absence.

"He did a lot for us last year," said Telesco, per Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego. "Great kid. Good football player. These are just tough decisions to make."

The 2011 third-round draft pick will now try to get it done for another AFC West team in Oakland, which is off to an uninspiring 0-2 start. Giving rookie quarterback Derek Carr as many weapons as possible isn't a bad strategy from McKenzie, but this is a big season for the Raiders.

Both McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen could be out of jobs without a considerable turnaround from back-to-back 4-12 campaigns.

Any enhancement to the offense may not be enough to help Oakland's woeful defense, though. In addition to giving up 400 yards rushing through two games, this Week 2 stat from the San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur is telling:

While Carr has established a strong rapport with James Jones to the tune of two touchdowns so far, he needs another viable target to step up. Brown could be that type of player, and he could also be a decoy to help the likes of Rod Streater, Denarius Moore and Andre Holmes get cleaner looks in the passing game.

Until he grasps the Raiders offense, gets on the same page with Carr and makes strides up the depth chart, Brown can't be lauded as a hot waiver-wire fantasy pickup. He has to prove he's healthy and has the playbook down before he even makes an impact on Sundays.

With just one touchdown on 41 catches in 2013, Brown isn't likely to get the targets to warrant a fantasy football flier. Unless his trips to the end zone become more frequent, he'll be no better than a flex option at best as the season progresses.

Whatever Brown's role happens to become, it's clear the Raiders are doing anything they can to improve the team and get in a position to win now. Week 3 doesn't promise to be any easier, as Oakland travels to take on Tom Brady and the mighty New England Patriots.