Last offsason, Reggie McKenzie brought in a really solid crop of free agents, signing players like Rodney Hudson, Malcolm Smith, Dan Williams, and Michael Crabtree and these players made big time contributions to help the team leap from 3-13 in 2014 to 7-9 in 2015. This offseason, Reggie is looking to take big swings to help the Raiders take the next step in order to make the playoffs and take over the AFC West for years to come. First things first, he addressed retaining some home grown players before they hit the unrestricted free agent market. He made a brilliant move in signing Crabtree to a 4-year extension before the 2015 NFL season ended after Crabtree proved his worth on a 1-year deal. Next, Reggie re-signed, Marquette King to a 5-year, $16.5 million extension, so that King doesn't hit the free agency market. So the least of our worries now in terms of the unrestricted free agency market is whether the Raiders will retain left tackle, Donald Penn or let him walk, which I'll address this issue at the conclusion of this post.
Potential Free Agent Targets for the Raiders: DE Malik Jackson (DEN), ILB Danny Trevathan (DEN), CB Sean Smith (KC), OG Kelechi Osemele (BAL), S Eric Weddle (SD)
So, the Raiders have around $70+ million in the salary cap to spend on some key free agents. Once again, Reggie has done a masterful job throughout his tenure as GM in putting the Raiders out of "cap Hell" and managing the salary cap wisely. Now that the saving up has worked out, the Raiders have to spend 89% of their salary cap to get on the cap floor according to NFL's collective bargaining agreement. I couldn't recall what the penalty is for failing to get on the cap floor, but this is a chance for Reggie to seriously make a push on some key free agents.
The priorities for the Raiders are as follows: secondary, linebackers that can cover, right side of the O-line, and D-line. Obviously, the primary target to help solidify the secondary is cornerback, Sean Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith fits the mold that Ken Norton, Jr. wants to bring to this Raider secondary from his coaching tenure at Seattle, big, lanky corners. With David Amerson coming on as one of our best corners, I think Smith will be a perfect complementary corner playing opposite of Amerson. Addressing the safety position is a must too in fortifying the secondary because there are a bunch of unknowns on that position. The Raiders released and re-signed Nate Allen to a 1-year contract, they're looking to convert T.J. Carrie to the safety spot since Charles Woodson retired. As of now, Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers is a top target to put some stability to the safety position and I believe he wants to go to a division rival where he can stick it to the Chargers twice after being disrespected by them. I think Weddle can fit in because he will fill that veteran leadership void that Charles Woodson left behind in that secondary, but given his age and past injuries, it should warrant some risk in signing him.
Now, onto the linebackers, O-line, and D-line. The Raiders need some coverage linebackers that can cover tight ends because they've been atrocious last season in that category. Curtis Lofton, good run defender, liability in coverage. Malcolm Smith, love his motor and pursuit to the ball, but not too great in coverage. Danny Trevathan of the Denver Broncos would be a huge upgrade because not only can he play the run, but his coverage skills would be of huge help and his ties with Jack Del Rio is a plus. Addressing the O-line, aside from the decision of what to do with Donald Penn, the Raiders are just one or two pieces from forming a legit O-line. The name that is hot on the free agent market for the O-line is interior guard, Kelechi Osemele of the Baltimore Ravens. Now, if Osemele re-signs with the Ravens or goes to another team, there are other options out there such as Ramon Foster from the Steelers and Alex Boone from the 49ers. Signing either of the three will make the Raiders' interior side of the O-line legit and the running game with Latavius Murray would benefit big time with Jackson, Hudson, and Osemele/Foster/Boone. Finally, for D-line, we don't know the status of Mario Edwards' neck, so it's best to sign a D-linemen just in case. Once again, weakening the division rival and Super Bowl champion, Broncos, stealing away Malik Jackson would be huge and like Trevathan, Jackson has ties with Del Rio and fits the mold of what Del Rio likes from his D-line, big, physical linemen that can eat up blocks to free up Khalil Mack. A front 7 with Jackson, Dan Williams, Jelly (Justin Ellis), Mario Edwards, Jr. plus Mack and Aldon Smith (when he comes back from suspension), that has the potential to be a scary front 7.
To Re-sign or Not to Re-sign Donald Penn
Moving on to this big time question the Raiders need to address, there aren't a lot of big time names in the left tackle position hitting the free agent market. The top-tier left tackle, Cordy Glenn of the Buffalo Bills got the franchise tag and the options are really limited. So it begs the question, should the Raiders retain Donald Penn? So far, contract negotiations have not worked out between the Raiders and Penn and we all know Penn is at the downside of his career. If it were up to me and I was Reggie McKenzie on the front desk, I would re-sign Penn for another 2 years and find his replacement later in the upcoming draft. That's my opinion, we'll have different views and that's fine. Now, if Penn walks away from the Raiders, Seahawks' tackle Russell Okung is the best available option out there. Okung would be a nice upgrade, albeit expensive and we don't know how he will play under power blocking scheme since he's been playing in a zone scheme his whole career. But, personally, if the Raiders want to go cheap in order to greatly upgrade other positions in need, I think they should the rout of re-signing Penn to another 2-year deal and draft his future replacement not in the first round, but some time during the draft.
It's an exciting time Raider Nation; we are almost there. The Raiders have a lot of cap space and they can address a lot of needs to shake up their draft board. Again, like last season I will make a post where I constantly update the Raiders' transactions as well as separate posts for big time free agents that could make a huge impact for the Raiders. Reggie McKenzie, Mark Davis, Jack Del Rio, it's time to make it rain in the free agent market. I'll see you guys later.
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