The off-season is finally here, and with it come fresh expectations. The Oakland Raiders skyrocketed to their best season since 2002 in 2016, and the fans will expect the same in 2017. The Oakland Raiders are quickly becoming a trendy Super Bowl pick for 2017, but if they’re going to do so, they’ll need to make some improvements. Here’s the Oakland Raiders off-season wish list.
The Oakland Raiders Off-Season Wish List
Linebacker
There’s no question that the Oakland Raiders need some serious help at linebacker. Perry Riley, Malcolm Smith, and Daren Bates are all set to be free agents, and even when they were signed, they weren’t world-beaters. The Raiders have seemingly always struggled covering tight ends, and they gave up over 110 rushing yards a game last year. Even if they do re-sign Riley, they could use some help.
Ideal Draft Target- Jarrad Davis
There’s actually an entire article listing why the Oakland Raiders should draft Florida’s Jarrad Davis with the 24th pick in this draft, but here’s a summary. While some argue that Davis is undersized, he’s an outstanding athlete, and could give the Raiders some much-needed help over the middle.
Ideal Free Agent- Zach Brown
Some will say that New England’s Dont’a Hightower is who the Raiders should target, but he’s just too expensive. Spotrac reports that his market value is around $10 million dollars a year, and that’s just too much for the Raiders right now. Instead, maybe the Raiders should consider Zach Brown of the Buffalo Bills.
Zach Brown is only 27 years old, and is coming off a pretty good season with the Bills. Brown’s rare combination of size and freak speed would make him a great pick-up for any team, and if the Bills let him walk, the Oakland Raiders should absolutely think about giving him a look, if they can afford him.
Defensive Tackle
The Oakland Raiders couldn’t find any interior pass rush at all last year, and just like with the linebackers, the defense was gouged by the run. In 16 games, the Raiders got a combined five sacks from the inside. If the rumors are true and they’re going to change to a 3-4 defense, they’ll need to make an improvement over Dan Williams.
Ideal Draft Target-Malik McDowell
Malik McDowell is another player the Oakland Raiders should totally consider in the first round. He’s a little raw, and while Raiders fans might be tired of seeing explosive raw athletes that don’t seem to pan out as football players, McDowell is worth a look.
He’s 6’6, 276 pounds, and demonstrates incredible explosiveness. Athletically, there’s nothing more you could possibly ask of a defensive line prospect. Head coach Jack Del Rio has been very vocal about wanting to increase Oakland’s interior pressure, and McDowell could do just that. If he becomes a decent player at all, he could take pressure off of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin as well.
Ideal Free Agent- Dontari Poe
There’s also an article about why the Oakland Raiders should sign Kansas City’s Dontari Poe, but here are the reader’s digest version. Poe is the best option because he’s younger, cheaper, and more athletic than the likes of Brandon Williams and Kawann Short. Not to mention, it helps to steal a player from a division rival.
Corner
Yesterday, the LWOS Raiders shared an article about why the Silver and Black don’t need to draft a cornerback high, but that doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t try to pick up another corner. With T.J. Carrie struggling to break through and D.J. Hayden hitting free agency, they could use another talented defensive back.
Ideal Draft Target- Jourdan Lewis
Jourdan Lewis is a controversial prospect in this draft. He’s undersized and was picked on during some games in college. This benefits the Raiders though, because that means his draft stock won’t be as high, and they can get him in the second or third round. He’s got great ball skills, is an exceptional athlete, and he plays with a mean streak. Assuming he’s not the second coming of D.J. Hayden, he’ll be a good fit.
Ideal Free Agent- Aqib Talib
Many Raider fans are repulsed by this idea, but they really shouldn’t be. Aqib Talib might be a perfect fit for the Oakland Raiders. David Amerson struggled down the stretch last year, and might benefit from being moved into the nickle position. Talib was Pro Football Focus’ second best corner last year, but he might be too expensive for Denver to keep.
If Talib and Michael Crabtree can make up, Talib would give the Oakland secondary a massive boost. Sean Smith had moments last year, and adding Talib would solidify the unit. Talib is 31 years old, so he won’t be too expensive, and like with Poe, it never hurts to weaken a division rival.
Free Safety
Some people will argue that Oakland Raiders don’t need a new free safety. Reggie Nelson was a member of last year’s Pro Bowl roster, after all. However, these people are wrong. Nelson was a terrible liability in coverage, and some argue he’s the reason the Raiders struggled on defense.
Ideal Draft Target- Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams from Utah is an interesting prospect. He’s a ballhawking safety and a reliable tackler. He doesn’t bring the heat like teammate Karl Joseph does, but he’s still a pretty solid safety. Draft experts are saying they believe he’ll be drafted somewhere in the second or third round, and if he lives up to potential, he could help solve Oakland’s secondary problem.
Ideal Free Agent- Tony Jefferson
Unlike most free agents on this list, safety Tony Jefferson is the one that started these rumors. With rumors regarding DeSean Jackson coming to Oakland, Jefferson was enthused.
@djhomicide that’s be unfair . D jack in the slot with amari outside with crab.. damn
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) February 13, 2017
When it was brought up that the Raiders could use a safety like Jefferson, he had another interesting response.
@djhomicide yeee.. we’ll see in couple weeks tho ,they know wassup lol
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) February 13, 2017
Jefferson is still young, and he’s a well rounded safety. He was Pro Football Focus’ fifth best safety in the NFL last season, with a better grade than even Eric Berry. If the Oakland Raiders could sign Jefferson, he would immediately transform the team in to a Super Bowl contender.
Slot Receiver
Ideal Draft Target- Ryan Switzer
Another player, another article. The Oakland Raiders should absolutely draft Ryan Switzer. He’s the perfect slot receiver, and he’d give the Oakland Raiders a rare dimension that most teams don’t have. He’s reliable, consistent, and he gives Derek Carr someone he can trust on third down.
Ideal Free Agent- DeSean Jackson
Raiders fans will remember the failed #DJaxToOakland movement from the last time DeSean Jackson was a free agent. Jackson is set to be a free agent again, and this time, his asking price will be much smaller.
The alleged personnel problems that haunted Jackson when he was younger seem to be gone, and assuming that he can be a team player, Jackson would be an excellent addition to the offense. He’d add a reliable, speedy weapon to Derek Carr and the offense.
Right Tackle
As great as Oakland’s offensive line was last year, the weakness was quite obvious. Menelik Watson and Austin Howard both played the position, but neither man played it extremely well. The Raiders could use a consistent option on the right side of the line.
Ideal Draft Target- Antonio Garcia
Antonio Garcia, the huge tackle from Troy, would be a great get for the Oakland Raiders. He’s an exceptional athlete with a ton of power. He needs to clean up his game a little, but he could step in and make a difference at right tackle right away. The Raiders need some stability at the position, and he reminds scouts of former Raider Jared Veldheer.
Ideal Free Agent- Russell Okung
The Denver Broncos released Russell Okung earlier this week, and he could be a great temporary fit for the offensive line. He was better as a run blocker than a pass blocker in 2016, but frankly, that’s all the Raiders need right now. He could probably be signed at a relatively inexpensive price, while immediately improving Oakland’s line.
Tailback
Latavius Murray is as good as gone. It’s sad, but the Oakland Raiders are going to be okay. Behind that offensive line, a mediocre runningback can have a good season. Here are two guys the Oakland Raiders should consider bringing in to boost the run game.
Ideal Draft Target- Christian McCaffrey
Like almost every other prospect on this list, there’s already an article about why the Oakland Raiders should draft Christian McCaffrey. Here’s a brief summary though. Christian McCaffrey has been called everything from the second coming of Barry Sanders to this generation’s Reggie Bush. He’s an explosive playmaker that many feels lacks the ideal size to be a feature back. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to have 30 carries a game, but more on that in a second.
The best thing about drafting Christian McCaffrey is that he’s basically bust-proof. It’s true that he might not pan out as a running back, but he’s got the size and talent to easily transition into playing wide receiver. He could give the Raiders the much needed slot receiver they’ve been missing. And even if that doesn’t work, he’s a fantastic kick returner, which the Raiders could also use. Ask New England how much having a swiss army knife player benefits offense and special teams.
Ideal Free Agent- Rashad Jennings
That’s right, the ideal free agent for the Oakland Raiders is a former Raider. Why should the Raiders bring the bruising back for another run? Because he fits what they need perfectly. While the exact opposite of Jennings, Jennings gives the Raiders exactly what they need.
Last year’s rookies, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are smaller, shiftier backs. They can run over people occasionally, but their game is getting around and past potential tacklers. Jennings is a bruising back that could tenderize defensive front sevens.
Despite his size, Latavius Murray was never really a bruising back. The Raiders could benefit from having a big back that’s almost always going to get three or four yards. Ideally, the Oakland Raiders could get both Jennings and McCaffrey and have the perfect two-back set. Jennings will be 32 when the season starts, so he won’t be asking for much money.
