Oakland Raiders: Ranking the team’s top 2018 offseason additions

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden (L) and Raiders owner Mark Davis pose for a photograph during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 1: Wide receiver Dwayne Harris #17 of the New York Giants warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 1, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

4. Dwayne Harris, WR/KR (from New York Giants)

Special teams are very important part of a Jon Gruden club. You will recall that back in his days during his first stint with the Oakland Raiders, the team use the draft to grab placekicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler.

Regardless of who made those moves in the draft in 2000, both were mainstays for the franchise during Gruden’s days and beyond. Lechler is currently with the Houston Texans and still playing at quality level. Meanwhile, Janikowski missed all of 2017 due to injury and was not resigned by the Silver and Black this offseason — recently latching on with Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks.

Also worth noting is that the Raiders opted to dealt big-play kickoff return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson to the New England Patriots. That left a void in that area for Gruden and company, hence the signing of wide receiver/kick returner Dwayne Harris.

A sixth-round draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys back in 2011, he spent the previous three seasons with the New York Giants. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016 but also comes off a year in which he was limited to five games. Harris has four career returns for touchdowns — three of those taking back punts. You may also recall he a big year with the Giants catching passes in 2015. He hauled in 36 balls for 396 yards and four scores that year. But it’s his presence on special teams that should make a difference for the Silver and Black.

Next: No. 3

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