Raiders sign DE Antonio Smith to 2-year contract
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The Oakland Raiders came into free agency with more cap space than any other team in the league, and they're using all that room to upgrade the defense. On Thursday, Oakland signed defensive end Justin Tuck and linebacker Lamarr Woodley, while Friday has seen the Raiders add cornerback Tarell Brown as well as another new defensive end.
The Oakland Raiders have signed DL Antonio Smith. pic.twitter.com/IRpnbIxhs1
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) March 14, 2014
Former Texans DE Antonio Smith just signed a 2-year, $9M deal with the Raiders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2014
Smith was a fifth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2004 and after five seasons in Arizona, Smith spent the last five years playing for the Houston Texans. He's proven remarkably durable, missing just one game over the past eight seasons.
Smith registered 30 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble in 15 games for the Texans last season. He has averaged more than six sacks per year over the past three seasons, and was named a Pro Bowler in 2011.
It will be interesting to see how the Raiders plan to use Woodley, Tuck and Smith in their 3-4 scheme. It was reported Woodley would move from linebacker to defensive end so perhaps Smith will also find himself moving from end to defensive tackle.