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2016 NFL offseason: Oakland Raiders needs

By Patrick Morgan

Oct 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet on the turf during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet on the turf during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrates during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrates during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Players that might leave

Legendary safety Charles Woodson is anything but dead weight, but he’s also anything but a player that “might” leave the team; he announced his retirement before Christmas. After 18 seasons of exemplary play, Woodson goes out as not only one of the greatest Raiders of all time, but also as one of the greatest players in NFL history. Notorious for his knack for coming up with big plays at opportune moments, the Michigan man remains the only player to have racked up 60 interceptions and 20 sacks in a career.

Needless to say, he’ll be missed in the Bay Area … and in the Oakland secondary.

Woodson isn’t the only vet leaving the silver and black behind. Tom Brady-terrorizer and Subway sandwich pitchman Justin Tuck also decided to call it a career in February after a decade in the league. Tuck posted solid numbers in 2014, his first season as a Raider, but missed out on practically all of 2015 after suffering a chest injury in October.

Then there are those free agent players who Oakland would be better off without, starting with offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb. Webb wasn’t as bad in 2015 as that other famous Raider who went by the name JaMarcus, but he still was far from good. Pro Football Focus graded Webb out at a 44.6 for his work this season protecting Derek Carr and blocking for Latavius Murray. For comparison, consider the grades for Oakland’s other free agent offensive linemen: Donald Penn (84.5), Khalif Barnes (63.1), and Matt McCants (57.5).

Webb started all 16 games last season, and still ranked significantly lower than the back-up McCants. The right guard has bounced around the NFL the last six seasons, and didn’t really show anything in 2015 to convince McKenzie and head coach Jack Del Rio that he’s worth bringing back next season at his current cap hit of $585,000.

Wide receiver Rod Streater is another player that’s almost guaranteed to be suiting up for a new team next season. He has the fourth-highest cap hit of all 23 Raider free agents, yet he caught just one pass for eight yards in the one game he was active for last year. Streater has tumbled down the depth chart in his last two seasons, and found himself the odd man out in 2015 with Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Andre Holmes, and Seth Roberts getting all the love from Carr and the coaching staff.

Next: Players to target

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