The Raiders' special teams makeover continues, with yet another prominent role filled by someone new. Return man Dwayne Harris signed a one-year contract on Monday evening, the team announced, just a few weeks after Cordarrelle Patterson was traded to New England.
The 2016 Pro Bowler can return punts and kickoffs, with four return touchdowns to his credit. Harris has averaged 26.1 yards per kickoff and 9.7 yards per punt in his career, though he was better in that category in 2015 and before. He is also a solid cover man, with 33 special teams tackles.
Harris missed the final 11 games last year with a foot injury.
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Experience makes Harris a frontrunner to return kicks and punts, and will be yet another specialist Raiders fans must get to know. Andrew DePaola replaces longtime long snapper Jon Condo. The Raiders will have a new punter after they cut Marquette King on Friday. Even kicker Giorgio Tavecchio is relatively new, after replacing Sebastian Janikowski before the 2017 opener.
New is one special teams theme. So are Rich Bisaccia connections. The new Raiders special teams coach will reunite with Harris, Kyle Smith and Kyle Wilbur, key special teams players at his previous stops.
Harris, for example, played for Bisaccia in Dallas from 2013-14.
“Getting Rich Bisaccia on board was huge,” head coach Jon Gruden said last week at the NFL owners meetings. “He was my special teams coach in Tampa, and we pulled him out of Dallas. It was a fight.”
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The Raiders needed a returner after trading Patterson and a sixth-round pick to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick.
Oakland has added significant special teams coverage upgrades during free agency. Newcomers Emmanuel Lamur and Derek Carrier will also play significant special teams coverage roles with Smith, Wilbur, and Harris.
“Special teams was going to be a priority for us this offseason,” Gruden said. “A couple years ago, when the Raiders were in the playoffs, they had guys like (Brynden) Trawick, (Andre) Holmes and (Darren) Bates. They did a great job on special teams. Forget the returner for a minute. You’ve got to block and cover these kicks.”