Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) looks across the line during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) looks across the line during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Players to target

The Oakland Raiders acquiring Eric Weddle just makes too much sense. Think about it: the Raiders are losing Charles Woodson, an electrifying ballhawk of a free safety, to retirement. In comes Eric Weddle, an electrifying ballhawk of a free safety, to replace him. Both are veteran players who have seen just about everything there is to see in the game, yet Weddle is eight years younger and only a season removed from Pro Bowl status.

He also has a major chip on his shoulder against the San Diego Chargers, a team that made him feel unwanted in 2015, and playing for the Raiders would give him the opportunity to rub it in his old team’s face at least twice a year moving forward. Weddle would stay in-state but receive a fresh start on a legit AFC West contender, and the Raiders would solidify the back end of their defense with a proven leader they can trust in coverage. It’s a win-win for everyone … except the Chargers, of course.

And while we’re talking about the Oakland secondary, it’s probably a good idea to look at some of the cornerbacks available on the market. While the Raiders ranked 13th in the league against the rush, they checked in at 26th in passing yards allowed last season. That’s an even more upsetting number when you consider that playing six divisional games meant the defense faced either Philip Rivers, Alex Smith, or Peyton Manning/Brock Osweiler at quarterback for nearly half the season. Those quarterbacks are all proven winners (some more than others), but none of them were renowned in 2015 for shredding opposing secondaries with an aerial assault.

If the Raiders want to take the next step defensively, they’ll do so by making a play for someone like Cincinnati’s Leon Hall, Kansas City’s Sean Smith, or New York’s Prince Amukamara. All three are arguably the top free agents at their position, and none will come cheap, but any one of them could be purchased with all the ample spending money McKenzie has afforded his team this offseason. Oakland is thought to be entering 2016 with nearly $64 million in projected cap space, the highest number among all 32 teams, so the Raiders have the luxury of pursuing big-name free agents this summer and maybe even signing several of them.

One area the team could also address with some of that cash would be at running back. Latavius Murray proved himself a viable starter last season, finishing with six touchdowns and almost 1,300 yards from scrimmage, but the team could still use another tailback to spell him and provide a potent one-two punch out of the backfield. If he ends up getting released by the Texans, Oakland should jump headfirst into the bidding war for Arian Foster. Yes, he’s injury-prone, but he’s also a downhill runner with soft hands who could mentor Murray while providing an immediate upgrade to the league’s 28th-ranked rushing offense.

Next: Draft strategy

Home/Las Vegas Raiders