The Oakland Raiders have signed wide receivers Chad Jackson and Shawn Baynes as well as fullback Bryson Kelly, according to Jerry McDonald. With these signings, the Raiders have added three young projects to their offense.
The 26-year-old Jackson played college football at Florida from 2003 to 2005 before being drafted in the second round (36th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Jackson saw limited action in 12 games with the team his rookie season, recording 152 yards and three touchdowns on only 13 receptions. He was riddled with injuries during his time in New England before being released in 2008. He has since bounced around to the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills without getting much playing time (only four games and one total reception), and will now get a shot with the Raiders.
Baynes, 24, played four years (2005 to 2008) at Kent State University and never fumbled the ball once during his 74 receptions (1,133 yards and 8 touchdowns). Since leaving college, Baynes has attended the training camps of the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders. The aspiring wide receiver parted ways with the Seahawks, who wanted to convert Baynes to a defensive back, in 2008 and has had on-and-off contact with the Oakland Raiders since 2009. Though he could not secure a spot in years past, Baynes has now been signed by the Raiders.
Kelly played four years as fullback for the Division II Central Washington University Wildcats from 2007 to 2010. Last season, he recorded a monster game of 246 yards and 4 touchdowns against Simon Fraser University, both records in the Great Northwest Conference. He went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and will get his first real chance in the NFL with the Raiders.