The Raiders signed Doug Martin a few weeks back, and it was an interesting move. Jon Gruden has a Tampa background. Does he know something about Martin? And is this the beginning of the end for Marshawn Lynch?
But there was no mention of the dollars involved, and those are often telling. They provide some indication of the value of the player – how much the team thinks he’s worth, and how much he was able to get.
Well, the numbers finally trickled out (on the Spotrac website), and they ain’t much.
It’s a one-year deal with a base salary of $850,000. There’s a $525,000 bonus, but it’s not a signing bonus – it’s a roster bonus. Also a $100,000 workout bonus, for a grand total of $1,475,000.
It’s a let’s-take-a-look contract. He’ll show up at camp, and if the Raiders like what they see, they’ll keep him around. If they don’t think he’s bringing much to the table, they can cut him loose, and all they’ll be out is the $100,000 workout bonus (assuming Martin shows up at the offseason drills).
Sounds like a good deal. Martin has put together two big seasons. On one of those, he was gunning for a new contract. If he can somehow rekindle some of that fire, he would be a steal at $1.475 million.
But probably more likely that Martin doesn’t even make the team. The Raiders also have Jalen Richard (the guy we have pictured), and he might be a lot better in that No. 2 spot.
Richard needs some polishing. Over the last two years he’s fumbled 8 times in 254 touches – the worst rate in the league among running backs. But he’s also pretty good – explosive. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry last year, and he averaged 5.9 as a rookie. He hasn’t played all that much, yet two years in a row has a touchdown run over 50 yards.
Over the last two years, 78 running backs have carried the ball at least 100 times. Richard has averaged 5.5 yards per carry – 2nd-best among those backs. Martin has averaged 2.9 per pop – 2nd-worst.
| YARDS PER CARRY (2016-17) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.07 |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 139 | 766 | 5.51 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 435 | 2,167 | 4.98 |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 166 | 823 | 4.96 |
| Ty Montgomery, G.B. | 148 | 730 | 4.93 |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 132 | 650 | 4.92 |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1,327 | 4.88 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 309 | 1,494 | 4.83 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 244 | 1,179 | 4.83 |
| Mike Gillislee, 2TM | 205 | 960 | 4.68 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 564 | 2,614 | 4.63 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 521 | 2,405 | 4.62 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 528 | 2,435 | 4.61 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 423 | 1,944 | 4.60 |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 109 | 499 | 4.58 |
| Jay Ajayi, 2TM | 469 | 2,145 | 4.57 |
| Matt Jones, 2TM | 104 | 474 | 4.56 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 155 | 706 | 4.55 |
| Alex Collins, 2TM | 243 | 1,098 | 4.52 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 404 | 1,805 | 4.47 |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 105 | 465 | 4.43 |
| Rex Burkhead, 2TM | 138 | 608 | 4.41 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 582 | 2,559 | 4.40 |
| Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 286 | 1,234 | 4.31 |
| DeAndre Washington, Oak. | 144 | 620 | 4.31 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.30 |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 214 | 921 | 4.30 |
| Alfred Morris, Dall. | 184 | 790 | 4.29 |
| Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 201 | 862 | 4.29 |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 111 | 476 | 4.29 |
| Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 155 | 661 | 4.26 |
| Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | 138 | 583 | 4.22 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 457 | 1,926 | 4.21 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 274 | 1,148 | 4.19 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 193 | 804 | 4.17 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 304 | 1,262 | 4.15 |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 133 | 548 | 4.12 |
| LeGarrette Blount, 2TM | 472 | 1,927 | 4.08 |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 477 | 1,946 | 4.08 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 355 | 1,444 | 4.07 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 196 | 795 | 4.06 |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 179 | 718 | 4.01 |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 171 | 682 | 3.99 |
| Latavius Murray, 2TM | 411 | 1,630 | 3.97 |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 163 | 646 | 3.96 |
| Christine Michael, 2TM | 148 | 583 | 3.94 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 557 | 2,190 | 3.93 |
| Terrance West, Balt. | 232 | 912 | 3.93 |
| Wendell Smallwood, Phil. | 124 | 486 | 3.92 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 538 | 2,102 | 3.91 |
| Robert Kelley, Wash. | 230 | 898 | 3.90 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1,040 | 3.88 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 506 | 1,961 | 3.88 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.86 |
| Eddie Lacy, 2TM | 140 | 539 | 3.85 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 524 | 1,986 | 3.79 |
| Matt Forte, NYJ | 321 | 1,194 | 3.72 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 117 | 435 | 3.72 |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 259 | 955 | 3.69 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 176 | 643 | 3.65 |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.63 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 416 | 1,504 | 3.62 |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 253 | 911 | 3.60 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 309 | 1,109 | 3.59 |
| Chris Ivory, Jac. | 229 | 821 | 3.59 |
| Mike Tolbert, 2TM | 101 | 361 | 3.57 |
| Paul Perkins, NYG | 153 | 546 | 3.57 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 183 | 653 | 3.57 |
| Zach Zenner, Det. | 102 | 360 | 3.53 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.52 |
| Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.45 |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 106 | 365 | 3.44 |
| Matt Asiata, Minn. | 121 | 402 | 3.32 |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 181 | 593 | 3.28 |
| Adrian Peterson, 3TM | 193 | 601 | 3.11 |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 167 | 506 | 3.03 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 282 | 827 | 2.93 |
| Dwayne Washington, Det. | 110 | 309 | 2.81 |
—Ian Allan