PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Folston, a Second-Round Pick, Signs

The Raiders signed another of their 1994 draft choices, James Folston of Northeast Louisiana.

Folston, a second-round pick who has played both at linebacker and in the defensive line, will be tried at outside linebacker.

The Raiders have three of their six draft choices signed. Still out are No. 1 pick Rob Fredrickson, a linebacker from Michigan State; third-round selection Calvin Jones, a running back from Nebraska, and fourth-round choice Austin Robbins, a defensive lineman from North Carolina.

Also signed was free agent Mike Alexander, a wide receiver originally picked by the Raiders in the eighth round of the 1988 draft. Alexander has since played for the Buffalo Bills, the San Francisco 49ers and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

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The Raiders continue to talk to fullback Tom Rathman. The unrestricted free agent, who made $985,000 last season with the San Francisco 49ers, has reportedly been offered $600,000 a year for each of the next two seasons by the Raiders.

The highest the 49ers wanted to go to retain Rathman was $450,000 to $500,000 a season. “I think he’s probably leading south,� said John McVay, 49er vice president. “We have an offer out there to him. The coach has assured him of every opportunity to compete for the position.�