Raiders give $55 million deal to WR Walker has 0 comments

Mar 5th 2008, 10:02 | FFN-Score: 1 points

The Oakland Raiders reached agreement with free-agent wide receiver Javon Walker on a stunning six-year, $55 million deal that includes $27 million in the first three years, including $16 million guaranteed, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

The deal is staggering when you consider the contract the record-setting Randy Moss received from the New England Patriots on Monday: $27 million over three years.

Since last Thursday, the Raiders have doled out more than $144 million in contracts to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly ($50.1 million), safety Gibril Wilson ($39 million), and Walker ($55 million).

The final one came Tuesday night, when the Raiders and Walker's agent, Kennard McGuire, agreed to a deal that instantly became the talk of the league as the single-most stunning free-agent contract this off-season -- maybe ever.

Denver severed ties with Walker late last week. The Broncos tried to trade Walker, but couldn't find any takers and released him to avoid having to pay him a $5.4 million option bonus on Tuesday.

Upset with his contract in Green Bay and Brett Favre's public criticism of his threatened holdout, Walker came to Denver from the Packers in a draft day trade in 2006.

Walker bounced back from a torn knee ligament that wiped out most of his 2005 season, piling up 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns on 69 catches in 2006. But hours after the season ended, teammate Darrent Williams was slain in a drive-by shooting and slumped into Walker's arms in the back of a stretch Hummer.

Walker started out last season with two 100-yard games but missed two months after a third operation on his right knee. He was supplanted by Brandon Marshall as the team's top receiver.

Also on Tuesday, the Raiders reached agreement with former San Francisco offensive tackle Kwame Harris on a three-year, $16 million deal.