Daunte Culpepper: Signs one-year deal with Raiders
It was a matter of when not if Daunte Culpepper would sign with an NFL team and we’ve been covering the possible destinations for you from the day he got released. Initial reports had him heading to Jacksonville, but that didn’t work out. He visited Tampa Bay and seemed a logical option there with Chris Simms ailing.
When we previewed Culpepper’s potential landing spots, I had this to say about Oakland:
Not As Likely As You Might Thing: Oakland Raiders
Al Davis loves strong-armed QBs but with a young head coach, a rebuilding offensive line, and a huge contract pending for JaMarcus Russell, this is a bad fit.
OOPS. Further proof that you should NEVER underestimate Al Davis’ willingness to bring aboard a strong-armed QB.
This signing will have significant implications for the upcoming fantasy season:
1) JaMarcus Russell’s contract status is tenuous — The last few days it’s become clear that Oakland the Russell’s camp are very far apart and he looks to wage an extended holdout. Signing Culpepper gives the Raiders needed leverage against the top rookie, because they can now legitimately afford to let Russell sit and stew for the next few weeks.
2) Josh McCown’s (albeit slim) fantasy prospects take a big hit – I for one had penciled in McCown as a modestly productive Week One starter. McCown is an excellent athlete and his mobility seemed to make him the favorite to start while the Raiders groomed Russell for his eventual ascendance. With Culpepper on board, McCown must now convince the Raiders he’s worth keeping around in place of the younger Andrew Walter.
3) Culpepper becomes a legitimate fantasy option on draft day — You can’t be sure the Daunte will stay healthy or finish the season as the starter; but you can be sure he’ll get the chance to carry the Raiders offense for a good chunk of the season. If Culpepper can show he’s still got some maneuverability in the pocket during training camp, he could be a decent late round option with immense upside if he were to a) remain healthy and b) play well enough to keep Russell on the bench.
What do you think about this signing? Surprised by his destination? Surprised by the one-year deal? Still think Culpepper will eventually take a backseat to Russell late in the year?
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