NFL free agency: James Dockery to join Oakland Raiders

When James Dockery was 10 years old, his uncle died tragically. The two were very close. A mentor to the young Dockery and big Oakland Raiders football fan, his uncle had a black and silver casket with a Raiders blanket draped over the top.

Dockery, a Palm Desert native, eventually made it to the NFL and, after three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, had hoped to be back in Charlotte this coming fall. But, he said, if his time there had indeed come to an end, there's one other team he'd like to play for.

Dockery, 26, got his wish Thursday when he agreed to terms to join the Raiders for the upcoming season. Terms of the deal have not been made public, as it is contingent on Dockery passing a physical examination, which will be done Friday.

"This is honestly a dream come true," Dockery said by phone Thursday. "I'm sitting here talking to you about it and I'm getting chills because I can't even believe this reality."

Dockery was a standout football and basketball player at Palm Desert High School before securing a football scholarship to play at Oregon State. He was an all-league selection at cornerback his senior season in Corvallis, Ore. He now owns a home there and works out there every offseason with former teammates like Gabe Miller and Brandon Hardin, and Oregon natives such as Ndamukong Suh.

After college, Dockery was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Cleveland Browns before ultimately being cut and picked up by the Panthers in 2012. He was then cut again last training camp, before ultimately re-signing with Carolina in September.

Dockery spends several months each year visiting friends and family in Corvallis and Palm Desert. That Oakland is a one-hour flight from both places made the opportunity even sweeter.

After the 2014 season ended, Dockery didn't see a future in Carolina. Rising star Colin Jones took most of the reps at nickelback, and other younger guys at his position started getting time on special teams. Dockery said he saw the writing on the wall.

It's bittersweet that his time in Carolina has come to an end.

"It's been nothing but love from Carolina," Dockery said. "It's very sad and very personal for me to be leaving the organization because I really do have some teammates there that I know I'll be in contact with the rest of my life."

With that, he's excited to be back on the West Coast. He said he believes his uncle is smiling down on him, thrilled that he'll be playing at the O.co Coliseum with The Black Hole and Raider Nation in the stands.

"I know he's up there looking down on me," Dockery said. "It's a very ecstatic day for him, for me and many of my family members and friends that have been lifetime Raider fans."