While several teams are busy making roster cuts in order to create more salary cap space, the Oakland Raiders have yet to get overly active. Oakland announced that safety Tyvon Branch has been released thanks to two years of injuries and ESPN is reporting the short-lived LaMarr Woodley era is over as well. Outside of the two defensive stars, the Raiders have remained quiet and yet still has plenty of money to spend come March 10. So does the team make a priority when the market opens?
According to Spotrac, the Raiders could enter the offseason with upwards of $60 million to spend in salary cap space before the amount is adjusted to fit what the NFL announces as the salary cap for 2015. They have some of the most money to work with in the league which is why they have yet to make a large number of roster cuts. That certainly does not mean they will not, but there is no rush for the Raiders and new head coach Jack Del Rio. Matt Schaub is at risk with his $5.5 hit. Maurice Jones-Drew could be gone with his $2.5 million hit. Nick Roach is an option as he comes in at $3.7 million.
The Raiders are looking to spend big on playmakers in order to truly set quarterback Derek Carr up for success. The team has plenty of options both in free agency and trades if they intended to use their draft picks elsewhere. According to the team website, Del Rio wants a top wide receiver to put on the field as the Raiders have lacked a real No. 1 guy in several years. As Andre Holmes, Rod Streater and Denarius Moore hit the market, the need is high to replace them.
At one point or another, the Raiders have been linked to trades for Mike Wallace, Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall simply because they have the cap space to sign them. If Oakland gets the feeling that all three players could be available if released, they will hold off on trade talks. There is no need to give up a draft pick on Wallace if the Miami Dolphins are simply going to make him a post June 1 cut.
The Raiders might enter the offseason with urgency and chase players already available. Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are out of the picture thanks to the franchise tag and Jeremy Maclin could quickly follow. That would leave the Raiders to target players like Randall Cobb, Michael Crabtree or Torrey Smith to chase with a contract. Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron would be solid fits as well. The Raiders are being linked to wide receivers in the draft. Oakland simply needs to decide which positions they chase with money and which they chase with draft picks.
