Tommy Kelly

The former Raider has a decent chance to start at defensive tackle next to Vince Wilfork, but given his modest tackle totals (45 last year), IDP relevance for the veteran lineman will hinge on him bouncing back in the sack department after recording just one in 2012. Kelly did combine for 14.5 sacks over the 2010-11 campaigns, however.

It isn't clear how Oakland's expected experimentation with the 3-4 will affect Kelly's IDP value, though it has been said he will play the nose role in such formations. In any case, he has established himself as one of the league's best pass-rushing defensive tackles the last two years. In that span he has totaled 101 tackles (65 solo) and 14.5 sacks. He should continue to be a safe backup option.

Kelly was second only to Suh in defensive tackle sacks last year, finishing the season with seven sacks and 60 tackles (38 solo). While he only has one season of 50 or more solo tackles, Kelly stays close enough to piles to accumulate a healthy number of assists. He's posted three consecutive seasons of at least 55 total tackles. It doesn’t look like Kelly will improve much from here, but he should remain a steady second option as an IDP.

Kelly posted 55 tackles for the second straight season in 2009, but his sack total dropped to just one after he found the quarterback 4.5 times in 2008. Kelly’s had at least four sacks in three of six NFL seasons, and he had 3.5 sacks in another, so he’s plenty capable of getting to the quarterback. Fifty to 60 tackles and four sacks would make him one of the few defensive tackles worth using in an IDP league.

Tommy Kelly’s most remarkable accomplishment in 2008 was making Al Davis look smart. Well, maybe not smart – but not as dumb as the pundits suggested. Kelly signed a massive seven-year, $50 million contract with the Raiders before the season – despite the fact that he’d played in just seven games in 2007. Maybe he didn’t earn all that loot – but he did generate 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks, which makes him one of the few defensive tackles worthy of an IDP spot. And since you’re not paying his salary, you can be happy with those numbers.

Kelly only played in seven games last season and has yet to record more than 4.5 sacks in a season during his career, but he received the biggest contract ever for a defensive lineman this offseason and will be looking to prove that the Raiders made a wise investment.

Wide body will compete for playing time with Warren Sapp and Terdell Sands.

Kelly had 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season during his first year as a regular. His primary role in Oakland's 4-3 defensive will be to occupy blockers and allow Derrick Burgess to rush off the end and speedy rookies Michael Huff and Thomas Howard to fly around and make plays. That said, he has 8.5 sacks in 26 career games and could be a surprise source of a few more in '06.