Oakland Raiders should go after Anquan Boldin
By John Laird
With free agency underway, the Oakland Raiders have already made a flurry of moves. Players like former Seahawks pass rusher Bruce Irvin and former Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith, among others have already decided to trade their colors for the silver and black. Here, we take a look at a veteran player who could be a huge addition to a young team that’s on the rise.
The Oakland Raiders are doing a lot of work in free agency this year. Remaking a defense and adding pieces to an offense that’ll hopefully result in a division title with Peyton Manning retiring. Anquan Boldin might be high in age, but he can still contribute on the field and off of it.
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The 35-year old pass catcher is on the market after the 49ers decided to void the remainder of his contract. Boldin is more likely than not looking for a team that can make a play off run, and the Raiders fit that bill. They’ve already done a great job at bolstering the offensive line with the signing of Kelechi Osemele. It’s time to get Derek Carr another weapon.
Yes, Derek Carr already possess some great weapons. Amari Cooper is headed toward stardom and Michael Crabtree is a solid compliment. Anquan Boldin would come into a situation where he is asked to be more of a leader then he is a play maker. He would be a great add to a locker room that has a lot of young talented players, but lacks true veteran leadership. Especially with Charles Woodson calling it a career.
Sure, Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray are great players, but have any players on the Oakland Raiders’ roster led a team to a Super Bowl? No, Crabtree doesn’t count when San Francisco fought it’s way to the Super Bowl and lost to Boldin’s Ravens. Having great players is one thing, bringing proven veteran leadership on top of that will elevate the team’s play to another level.
Anquan Boldin has been in the position where he was one of the key cogs to a Super Bowl title for the Baltimore Ravens. If you go back and look at the game tape, Boldin was seen bailing Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco out almost the entire post season.
That isn’t the only thing Boldin brings to the table, the ‘old-man’ can ball.
The former Florida State standout posted a 69 catch season that accumulated 790 yards and 4 touchdowns. That was with who throwing him the football? Blaine Gabbert? Boldin still has something left in the tank.
The reason for that is Boldin doesn’t just play off of athletic ability like most of today’s receivers. He plays with intelligence and aggression, two things that are harder to lose than just pure speed. Boldin knows where to sit in zones and how to position his body against defensive backs in man coverage. He runs precise routes that make up for the speed that was never really there to begin with.
Anquan Boldin possess the strongest pair of hands I’ve seen next to his former Arizona Cardinal teammate, Larry Fitzgerald.
Derek Carr should be welcoming Boldin with open arms. Every young quarterback deserves their scape-goat, the player they look to when things are closing down. You throw it anywhere in Boldin’s catch radius, 9 out of 10 times he is coming down with it.
If the Oakland Raiders take my advice here, the absolute worst case scenario would be Boldin acting as a mentor to Amari Cooper.
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If Cooper is as football savy as they say, he would be in Anquan Boldin’s hip pocket 24/7, picking his ear. I’m pretty sure Cooper would love to know how to get his hands on the fountain of youth. Something that’s hard to find in today’s NFL with wide receivers.