ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Raiders and DeAngelo Hall agreed to terms Thursday on a $70 million, seven-year contract that cleared the way for the former Pro Bowl cornerback to be dealt from Atlanta to Oakland.
Hall arrived in the Bay Area to meet with Raiders owner Al Davis, coach Lane Kiffin and other team officials Wednesday and the deal was completed the following day. Hall will be guaranteed a little more than $24 million in the new deal, a person familiar with the contract said on condition of anonymity because terms were not released.
``I'm excited to be joining the Raiders,'' Hall said in a statement released by the team. ``To come out here and see all of the Hall of Famers walking around, their photos posted on the wall, the championships, it's an amazing feeling to be a part of that history and be a part of making history.''
The Raiders wanted to sign Hall to a new contract before completing the deal with the Falcons in order to make sure they would have Hall for more than one year. Oakland sent a second-round pick, the 34th overall, in next month's draft, and a fifth-round pick in 2009 to Atlanta in the deal.
Oakland has only one pick in the first four rounds of the draft, the fourth overall selection in the opening round. The Raiders previously traded their third-round pick to New England for the pick used to select offensive lineman Mario Henderson in last year's draft, and its fifth-round pick to Denver for defensive tackle Gerard Warren.
The Raiders could try to recoup some of those lost picks by trading either cornerback Fabian Washington or Stanford Routt.
With Hall slated to start opposite standout cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in what should be one of the league's best cover duos, Oakland's top two picks from the 2005 draft will likely be relegated to the bench.
Routt, the second-round pick in '05, moved past first-rounder Washington as the starter last season. Routt is better suited to playing nickel back, possibly making Washington the more likely candidate to be traded.
Hall led the Falcons in interceptions with five and passes defensed with 16 last season. He has 17 interceptions in his four-year career.
The Raiders have been very active during the free-agency season after winning just four games last season and a league-low 19 the previous five years.
Oakland has signed defensive tackles Tommy Kelly and William Joseph, receivers Javon Walker and Drew Carter, safety Gibril Wilson, offensive linemen Kwame Harris and Cornell Green to deals that could be worth more than $160 million.
The Raiders also placed the exclusive franchise tag on Asomugha, guaranteeing him about $10 million next season, and re-signed running back Justin Fargas to a $12 million, three-year contract that guarantees him $6 million.
Hall was a first-round pick in 2004 and two-time Pro Bowl selection, but he is nearly as well known for his outspoken demeanor. He clashed openly with former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino last season and was benched for a half after a sideline confrontation.
Friday
May 2nd, 2025
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