The Raiders moved to fortify their offensive line while at the same time remain true to their new philosophy of acting with fiscal responsibility in acquiring a new starting center.
Three weeks after Jake Grove in free agency to a big-money free agent contract to the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders traded for Samson Satele, a two-year starter whose spot was taken by Grove.
Grove got $14.5 million guaranteed and is one year removed from microfracture knee surgery. Satele is playing on his existing contract signed as a second-round draft pick in 2008 and is recovering from relatively minor shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
The price for a 24-year-old player who has started all 32 games in his first two seasons in the league? A sixth-round draft pick, No. 168 overall, was sent to Miami. The teams also swapped fourth-round choices, with the Dolphins moving from No. 122 to No. 104.
The move continued the Raiders offseason trend of bringing in offensive linemen at bargain rates from the outside, while working on re-signing players already on their roster in other areas.
Oakland also added a pair of tackles this offseason in Erik Pears, an untendered free agent former starter from Denver, and left tackle Khalif Barnes, who agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract after being a starter in Jacksonville.
Raiders coach Tom Cable is of the belief that Satele can make the conversion to a zone blocking scheme which puts a premium on movement and athletic skill, rather than brute force.
"I think it's a good fit for me because I'm athletic," Satele said. "I'm fired up."
Returning at center for the Raiders is veteran John Wade and fourth-year player Chris Morris. Wade signed a two-year contract last offseason, ostensibly to be the starter, but was beaten out by Grove.
Morris was a restricted free agent who was retained by the Raiders who also serves as a reserve guard.
"If you look at it I think (the line) has improved, maybe substantially," Cable said. "Adding Khalif Barnes gives us significant competition at tackle. Having Samson Satele there to compete with John Wade probably makes us better overall at center. We've got two good guards, veteran guys (Robert Gallery, Cooper Carlisle). I think it's an area where we certainly have improved."
