Raiders Talking Contract Terms With Johnson, Russell and Quinn But Keeping Everyone Guessing

The Oakland Raiders, who have the top overall selection in the NFL draft, have had preliminary contract deliberations with the representatives of Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell of LSU and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame.

But it remains unclear if the Raiders will sign the player that they intend to choose Saturday to a contract before the draft begins, as NFL rules permit.

Most people in the league seem to expect the Raiders to pick Russell. But Johnson is regarded by many observers as the best player available in the draft and he apparently remains a strong possibility for the Raiders.

"There's probably only one guy in the world who knows what the Raiders are going to do, and that's [owner] Al Davis," former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese, now a draft analyst for ESPN, said during a conference call with reporters today.

Reese said he believes that Johnson is the best player in the draft. But the Raiders need to take Russell, Reese said, if they're convinced he's going to be a standout quarterback in the NFL.

"If you need a quarterback, you have to take him as soon as you can," said Reese, who selected Vince Young for the Titans with the third overall choice in last year's draft.

By Mark Maske |  April 25, 2007; 12:21 PM ET  | Category:  Raiders
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