Raiders Protect McElroy, Pickel : Pro football: Safeties Harden and Carter considered more expendable than backups Wright, Horton and Turk.

Since they’re Raiders and march to their own drummer, nothing they do comes as a surprise.

Thus it wasn’t a stunner Friday when their protected list for Group B free agency included not only the names of running back Marcus Allen and linebacker Jerry Robinson--Coach Art Shell had said it would--but safety Vann McElroy and defensive tackle Bill Pickel.

Nor was it shocking that they are dangling both their strong safeties, starter Mike Harden and Russell Carter, thereby showing that they deem backup journeymen Steve Wright, Dan Turk and Ethan Horton more valuable than Harden.

Here are the cases that might normally be termed upsets:

--McElroy. He’s 30, made $595,000 last season, became the first Raider in known history to be asked to sign an injury waiver on his contract, did in fact get hurt, missed all but five games and lost his free safety job to Eddie Anderson. His contract is up and he wants a raise or a trade.

Why did they protect him?

Either because Shell still wants him, or they think he has trade value and want control over his movements. They don’t need him in Seattle drawing a bead on Tim Brown’s ribs.

--Pickel. He’s 30, will make $585,000 this season, has gone downhill after his fine 1983-86 seasons and was used sparingly last season, although he still tries hard. They attempted to trade him last summer but couldn’t land a premium draft choice. Either Shell wants him, or they want to get a No. 5 pick for him or think they’re already too thin on the defensive line.

--Harden. He was impressive after coming from Denver, where he had refused to move to cornerback to accommodate rookie Steve Atwater. He was all the more valuable to the Raiders in that he called the defensive signals, taking that burden off Anderson.

The Raiders must be gambling on sliding him through because of his age and salary. He is reportedly in the $400,000 range but won’t be 30 until Feb. 16, and the fact that Carter is also unprotected makes this risky.

Left unprotected, along with Harden and Carter, were cornerback Mike Haynes; guard Dale Hellestrae, who was just signed as a Plan B; linebacker Ricky Hunley; tight end Trey Junkin, made dispensable by the rise of Mike Dyal; linebacker Linden King, called out of retirement last season; linebacker Emanuel King, whom they don’t have to worry about losing because he is a backup with a $475,000 salary, and center Bill Lewis, the ’88 outstanding lineman by his teammates’ vote who already has gotten two calls, including one from the Rams.

Also left unprotected were safety Stefon Adams, an old Al Davis favorite who shouldn’t have fielded that punt in the Meadowlands finale at his three-yard line; kick returner Bobby Joe Edmonds; defensive end Mark Mraz, an exhibition-season sensation for registering a few sacks who didn’t pan out; running back Kerry Porter, running back Steve Strachan, guard Newt Harrell and ex-Trojan wide receiver Timmie Ware.

A year ago, the Raiders signed 14 Plan B free agents.

Of the 14, eight have been cut and two aren’t being protected. The survivors are defensive tackle Bob Golic, linebacker Tom Benson, wide receiver Sam Graddy and kicker Jeff Jaeger.

RAIDER FREE AGENTS

Player Position

Stefon Adams DB

Russell Carter DB

Bobby Joe Edmonds RB

Mike Harden DB

Newt Harrell T

Mike Haynes DB

Dale Hellestrae G

Ricky Hunley LB

Trey Junkin TE

Emanuel King LB

Linden King LB

Bill Lewis C

Mark Mraz DE

Kerry Porter RB

Steve Strachan RB

Timmie Ware WR

*Mike Alexander WR

*Marcus Allen RB

*Steve Beuerlein QB

*Mike Dyal TE

*Ethan Horton TE

*Vann McElroy DB

*Vance Mueller RB

*Dennis Price DB

*Jay Schroeder QB

*Steve Smith RB

*Greg Townsend LB/DE

* Restricted.