Raiders open free agency by signing OL Rodger Saffold, allowing OL Jared Veldheer to leave

ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have agreed to a five-year contract with offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and let left tackle Jared Veldheer leave through free agency for Arizona.

ESPN reported that Saffold will get a $42.5 million contract with $21 million guaranteed in the deal agreed to just after the start of the free agency period Tuesday.

Saffold is a versatile blocker with experience playing both tackle spots and right guard in four seasons with St. Louis. But he has had problems with durability, missing 17 games with a variety of injuries.

Veldheer had been considered a building block in Oakland's rebuilding plan but the Raiders opted not to use the franchise tag on him and ultimately valued Saffold higher.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org