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The Raiders selected RB Darren McFadden and passed on DE-OLB Vernon Gholston in last weekend’s draft, leaving them with a somewhat fragile situation at defensive end. The stage has been set for a training-camp battle between DEs Kalimba Edwards and Jay Richardson to win the starting nod opposite Derrick Burgess, but neither appears to be a sufficient replacement for the departed Chris Clemons, who jump-started Oakland’s pass rush last season with eight sacks before signing with the Eagles as a free agent in March. Edwards, who was cut by the Lions in March, has had just three sacks in each of the last two seasons, and Richardson is known more as a run stuffer, netting just one sack as a rookie in ’07. Raiders owner Al Davis didn’t snag any help at end in the later rounds of the draft — sixth-round pick DE Trevor Scott has been characterized as a prospect who may be more useful at tight end. Burgess, who is seeking a new contract, would seem to have some leverage in negotiations for a deal, especially if he threatened to hold out. Without Burgess, who has either held or tied for the team lead in sacks at the end of each of the past three seasons, Oakland’s pass rush would be significantly weakened.
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