Wow. Mixed reactions from Raider nation to this one. This deal tops the one Cory Redding got last season and makes Kelly the highest paid DT in the league. The deal with him is that he's been a tough DE who excels more at the bull rush than the finesse move, so the idea is that putting him at DT puts him closer to the QB. He's supposed to replace Warren Sapp. He did miss 9 games last season with a torn ACL, and it's difficult to see why the Raiders would risk so much money on what might not be a sure thing... but at the same time they can't afford to lose many more players along what is a fairly weak D-line (only other great player: Derrick Burgess). Interestingly though, let's look at some figures:
Tommy Kelly
Height: 6'6
Weight: 300
Career Sacks: 13.0
Career Tackles: 166
Games Played: 39, missed 9 due to injury
Age 27
Albert Haynesworth
Height: 6'6
Weight: 320
Career Sacks: 15.5
Career Tackles: 221
Games Played: 76, missed 13 due to injury
Age 26
When you look at those stats, it becomes a bit of a different question. There is something to be said for the fact that Haynesworth has played DT all his career and Kelly played DE, and sacks are easier to come by at DE, whereas tackles are easier to get at DT, with the run stopping. I'll let you decide for yourselves.
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