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As ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton first reported last night that McFadden signed a six-year contract with a maximum value of $60 million that includes $26 million in guaranteed money. NFL Network insider Adam Schefter is confirming those figures.

McFadden, the fourth overall pick in the draft, was participating in the Raiders' mini-camp when the deal was struck.

Getting McFadden signed early was apparently a high priority for the Raiders, who last year failed to agree to terms with quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the top pick in the draft, until the first week of the regular season.

The Raiders will hold a press conference later this morning to formally announce the deal. McFadden and head coach Lane Kiffin are expected to attend.

McFadden, the Arkansas tailback who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in each of the last two seasons, ran for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons with the Razorbacks, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Though the Raiders were loaded with running backs, they decided McFadden's talents were too big to pass up with the fourth overall pick.

McFadden also got his contract done quickly. His agent, Ian Greengross, conducted negotiations in Alameda this week after McFadden expressed a strong desire to be signed before camp starts next month.

The Raiders hope McFadden can be an immediate contributor after the club dumped veteran running back Dominic Rhodes and are in the process of allowing fellow veteran LaMont Jordan to move on, too.

Starter Justin Fargas and promising youngster Michael Bush also will be in Oakland's backfield, but McFadden will almost certainly play a major role this year.

While Arkansas' run-oriented offense helped him surpass 1,000 yards in each of his three college seasons, big-play capability still sets McFadden apart. He is also an efficient receiver out of the backfield, running precise routes and could even be split wide. ...

Negatives? Ball security -- something that consumes Kiffin -- has been an issue for McFadden.

Still, there are two things you can't coach in the NFL: Size and speed. And there was nobody at this year's combine with a better combination of the two than McFadden, who ran a 4.33 40 at the combine.

Also worth noting, Kiffin singled out McFadden for his quick acquisition of Oakland's offense during the current mini-camp. ...

In a few related notes. ... Jordan was informed by Kiffin in a pre-minicamp meeting that the Raiders intend to move forward without him. Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, told the Oakland Tribune he has received permission from the Raiders to seek a trade.

Injuries and the emergence of Fargas cut into Jordan's playing time the past two seasons. His departure became all but certain in light of the Raiders re-signing Fargas to a $12 million contract, the arrival of McFadden and Bush's recovery from a broken leg.

For what it's worth, San Francisco Chronicle beat writer David White reports that Bush has displayed marvelous hands out of the backfield and shows no lingering effects from a broken leg that robbed him of two straight seasons.

But Kiffin is more focused on Bush's interior running.

"I don't know yet if he's what you want him to be at 245 pounds, for him to be a big-time bruiser that can pound the ball for you," Kiffin said. "That's what we've got to see."

Kiffin went on to say Fargas is the "best runner by far" in regards to decision-making and execution. McFadden is "the most talented guy" who hits home runs and runs the best routes. ...

Meanwhile, for all the positive developments Kiffin has seen during off-season workouts, he still knows it's far too early to make any pronouncements about how the team will fare this fall.

A few things have stood out so far at the start of year two of Kiffin's tenure as coach.

According to Schefter, Russell looks much more comfortable after starting only one game as a rookie and McFadden could provide a game-breaking element that has been missing on offense in recent years.

According to Pro Football Weekly, free-agent addition Drew Carter has established a strong rapport with Russell.

Carter was expected to fit as the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver, playing behind Javon Walker, when he was signed this offseason, but thus far in camp he has outperformed Walker, who showed up out of shape.

Veteran holdover Ronald Curry, whom Kiffin hoped would be well by mini-camp, remains out after undergoing foot surgery last month. Curry started to run again last week but won't be ready to go full-speed for at least another week.

Walker, however, is currently working as Oakland’s No. 1 receiver.

And Contra Costa Times staffer Steve Corkran advised readers this week that team officials still hope they've happened across a player on the verge of regaining the form that led to his catching 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers in 2004 and not the one who had only 26 receptions for 287 yards and no touchdowns last season.

For the record, Walker has had three surgeries on his right knee. The last of those came early last season as a result of an injury he sustained during an exhibition game.

Kiffin admitted this week that Walker's weight is a bit on the high side but that owes to it being the offseason and Walker still working his way back into shape.

"We think he's in a good place right now," Kiffin said. "He's going to continue to get faster as his weight goes down."

When that happens, Walker said, look out.

"It's going to be a deadly combination between all of us as wideouts when we get on the same page," Walker said.

Oakland certainly needed an experienced receiver capable of getting down the field and take advantage of Russell's big arm. And if healthy, Walker is that -- making him of at least some Fantasy interest. His progress will be worth watching this summer.