Raiders’ Quarterback Shopping List Grows

The Raiders have opened a free-agent camp in El Segundo.

The team plunged into the free-agent market early this month, luring offensive tackle Gerald Perry from the Rams in the first few days of free agency, but that might have been only the beginning.

Free agents are regular visitors at the El Segundo training headquarters, where they talk and work out.

Visiting last week were quarterback Jim Harbaugh of the Chicago Bears and defensive back Eric Thomas of the Cincinnati Bengals.

In today and Wednesday is quarterback Bobby Hebert of the New Orleans Saints, to be followed by quarterback Jeff Hostetler of the New York Giants.

In the end, though, the new Raider quarterback, if there is one, might be none of those. The Raiders have emerged as the leader in the Boomer Esiason sweepstakes.

Esiason, the veteran Cincinnati quarterback, is not a free agent, but he is a tradable commodity.

The Bengals benched Esiason, 31, last season, choosing to go instead with 24-year-old David Klingler. They have made no secret of their desire to peddle Esiason.

Three clubs have shown interest--the Raiders, the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Esiason’s old Bengal coach, Sam Wyche, is now the coach.

But the feeling in Cincinnati is that there is only lukewarm support for an Esiason trade in the Jet and Buccaneer organizations.

Nor have the Raiders decided that Esiason is their man. But, if the price is right, he could be.

Hebert has indicated that he would like to stay in New Orleans--for a guaranteed, four-year contract.

The Saints, who don’t want to offer a guarantee, have countered with a two-year deal totaling a little more than $6 million.

So Hebert is shopping around. He is also expected to visit the Detroit Lions.

Besides Thomas, the Raiders are courting Phoenix Cardinal defensive back Tim McDonald, a free agent, in an attempt to fill the vacancy in the Raider secondary created by the loss of Ronnie Lott last week to the Jets.

The Raiders also are talking to free-agent linebacker Shane Conlan of the Buffalo Bills.