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Raiders Add Nelson, Martin; Release Crabtree
The Raiders were busy on Thursday, the second day of the NFL's free-agent signing period. There were additions -- the team signed former Packers wideout Jordy Nelson and former Bucs running back Doug Martin.

There was also a subtraction in the form of Michael Crabtree's release.

Nelson is signing a two-year deal with the Raiders worth $15 million ($13 million guaranteed), according to the NFL Network. Martin gets a one-year deal. Crabtree's release saves the team $7 million of cap space.

As NFL.com's Nick Shook put it, "Nelson moves from a team that wasn't willing to pay him the back end of an extension that included a cap number of $11.5 million last season to a franchise so desperate for him, it guaranteed the veteran wideout $13 million of a $15 million deal."

The Raiders' willingness to invest in Nelson doesn't come without context. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie has a history with Nelson from his time in Green Bay, and Oakland receivers coach Edgar Bennett served as Nelson’s position coach for seven seasons with the Packers.

Crabtree, meanwhile, had his worst season in Oakland in 2017, catching 58 passes for 618 yards and eight touchdowns. Statistically, Nelson was even worse (53 receptions, 482 yards, six touchdowns), but was also playing a good chunk of his season with Brett Hundley.

Nelson joins an offense led by Derek Carr, who could use Nelson's route-running savvy opposite Amari Cooper.

Oakland's receiving corps also includes Cordarrelle Patterson and Seth Roberts, as well as new addition Griff Whalen, among others.

Shook went on to suggest what Nelson's ceiling is in Oakland is anyone's guess, because while the wideout had an excellent 2016 season (earning Comeback Player of the Year), it became clear in 2017 he was no longer the team's best wideout.

In nine seasons in Green Bay, Nelson made 550 catches for 7,848 yards and 69 touchdowns.

At 32 years old (he turns 33 in May) and entering his second season after an ACL injury, Shook believes Nelson's expected contribution lands somewhere between 2017 Crabtree and bordering on a 1,000-yard season in a best-case scenario. ...

As for Crabtree?

NFL.com's Chris Wesseling suggests the 10-year veteran shouldn't be out of work long. As evidenced by Paul Richardson, Marqise Lee and Ryan Grant, wide receivers with even a hint of promise are in high demand in this market. ...

Martin arrives in Oakland with a chance to salvage the next stage of his career under new Raiders coach Jon Gruden after rushing for fewer than 425 yards each of the past two seasons.

Martin was the Buccaneers' first-round draft pick in 2012 and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, when he rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns, and added 49 catches for 472 receiving yards. Unfortunately, Martin has now played five more seasons since then, and those rookie numbers all remain career highs -- although he did finish with 1,402 yards and six touchdowns in 2015 to earn another Pro Bowl appearance.

Martin joins a backfield with Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Elijah Hood, and fullback Jamize Olawale.

The addition of Martin will lead to speculation about Lynch's future with the Raiders. The hometown hero is due $5.9 million for 2018.

That said, Michael Silver of the NFL Network reports that Martin's arrival doesn't mean they’re subtracting Lynch like they did Crabtree.

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio notes, Lynch has been the better back recently, as he ran 207 times for 891 yards (4.3 per carry) and seven touchdowns last year.

While he’s getting another chance from Gruden, nothing about the way Martin has played lately suggests he’s prepared to take playing time away from anybody.

Finally, in a related note. ... The Raiders have signed former Cowboys fullback Keith Smith to a two-year deal worth $4.2 million.

Gruden said last month that he will be “trying to throw the game back to 1998" in his return to the sideline after a long spell in the broadcast booth and you can’t be a throwback in pro football without a fullback.

He got one.

Smith spent the last four years in Dallas and moved from linebacker to fullback two years ago. He was in on about 12 percent of the offensive snaps while playing in every game each of the last two years and got 10 touches (eight catches, two carries) over that span.

Whether it's Lynch, Martin or one of the other backs, Smith's presence will be a plus.