Pro Hogs

Raiders keep McFadden

Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) runs against Washington Redskins strong safety Brandon Meriweather (31) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders opened free agency on Tuesday by agreeing to a five-year contract with offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and keeping oft-injured running back Darren McFadden on a $4 million, one-year deal.

McFadden had been considered one of the many first-round disappointments in Al Davis' final draft. Picked fourth overall out of Arkansas in 2008, McFadden has missed 29 games in six seasons and never gone through a full season healthy.

McFadden had his biggest success in two years with Hue Jackson calling plays, averaging more than 5 yards per carry in 2010 and '11. But he has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry the past two seasons, second worst in the NFL in that span to the recently retired Rashard Mendenhall.

A move from a zone-blocking to a power scheme was supposed to spark McFadden last season but he rushed for just 379 yards and averaged 3.3 yards per carry in 10 games.