The Raiders have officially kicked off 2016 free agency with a bang. With lots of money to spend this offseason, General Manager Reggie McKenzie has made three key acquisitions in the first few days: offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele from the Baltimore Ravens, linebacker Bruce Irvin from the Seattle Seahawks, and cornerback Sean Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs.
All three are expected to be major impact players and the signings are drawing serious praise on social media. First, the players received warm welcomes from their new teammates:
@BIrvin_WVU11 welcome to #RaiderNation ! So happy to have you bro!
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) March 9, 2016
@derekcarrqb DC I Preciate that my brother! We bout to have alottttttt of fun!
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 9, 2016
👀
— Khalil Mack (@52Mack_) March 10, 2016
👀👀RT @52Mack_: 👀
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 10, 2016
@KOsevendeuce welcome to #RaiderNation! You already know! See you soon! 💀
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) March 9, 2016
Let's get it DC!!! https://t.co/t14GrMJSlM
— Kelechi Osemele (@KOseven0) March 10, 2016
💀 Perfect Fit
— Kelechi Osemele (@KOseven0) March 9, 2016
@SeanSMITH24 welcome to Oakland bro! Can't wait to get to work! 💀💀 #RaiderNation
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) March 10, 2016
@SeanSMITH24 let's eatttttttt!
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 10, 2016
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 10, 2016
I'm goin goin, back back, to Cali Cali 😎✌🏾️
— Sean Smith (@SeanSMITH24) March 10, 2016
#RaiderNation who else is excited about what our organization is doing??? 🙋🏼🙋🏼🙋🏼 #PlayoffBound
— Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) March 10, 2016
The national media and figures around the league are taking notice as well:
Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack… Not great news for QBs facing the Oakland #Raiders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2016
Q: What's silver and black and picks off future Hall of Fame passers?
— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2016
A: The @RAIDERS' new CB! #NFLFreeAgency https://t.co/xy4eD42sZ2
Raiders got the man they wanted in Sean Smith. Nice building block for the Secondary.
— Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison) March 10, 2016
Nice couple of days for the Raiders. Building something there.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 10, 2016
Raiders continue to upgrade! #RaiderNation https://t.co/rSONBFy4wi
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) March 10, 2016
Bruce Irvin + Khalil Mack - Broncos quarterback = pretty good day for Raiders
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) March 9, 2016
The @RAIDERS are a team to watch for a variety of reasons... https://t.co/HpjF1453BQ
— trey wingo (@wingoz) March 9, 2016
Huard on Irvin "This guy can cover, loves the rush the passer, and does not have to come off the field, he'll be a really good fit for Oak"
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 9, 2016
Text from a current FA on the Raiders: "2 Big time rushers. The offense has a ton of talent. Looks like a team ready to win the division"
— Eddie Borsilli (@Borsilli) March 9, 2016
One Free Agent player texted me "I need to get to Oakland Bro, they not playing around". #PlayersTakingNotice
— Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison) March 9, 2016
The Oakland Raiders….already an overwhelming offseason favorite to make the leap into the playoffs https://t.co/gS1WISLNl6
— Kevin Patra (@kpatra) March 10, 2016
"They're building a real team. Watch what's happening." - @ColinCowherd on the @RAIDERS. #HerdHere pic.twitter.com/KE1jfMXs9k
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 9, 2016
Gil Brandt "It's the second year in the row the #Raiders have really helped themselves"
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 9, 2016
Brandt "can you imagine Irvin on one side and Mack on the other...that's a lot of Havoc going to be created there"
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 9, 2016
#RaiderNation 👊🏾💯 https://t.co/8BbreVLFpe
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) March 10, 2016
RAIDEERRRRSSSSSSSSS!!! getting the chant going early this year. 💀💀💀 @LataviusM @52Mack_ @derekcarrqb @odotcocoliseum @birvin_wvu11
— Alexander DeLeon (@bohnes) March 10, 2016
With Osemele to Raiders (per @Rand_Getlin) Raiders picking up a guy who had 5th (2015) & 4th (2014) run blocking grades of all guards
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 8, 2016
Osemele's market was incredibly hot. When the deal is announced, it'll blow the top off of the OG market. Huge get for the #Raiders.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 8, 2016
#Raiders grabbing Irvin isn't so surprising if you consider that few know him better than Ken Norton, Jr. Oakland's on the rise.
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) March 9, 2016
