The Oakland Raiders have made all their big moves in free agency and now the team can focus on adding for depth and areas of need, as players like Michael Crabtree, Jermaine Gresham, Trent Richardson, Stevan Ridley, Dwayne Bowe, Hakeem Nicks, Pierre Thomas and Knowshon Moreno are available and they could be potential targets after the team released Matt Schaub.
The Raiders were expected to make a move with Schaub due to his high salary and also due to the fact that the team signed Christian Ponder last week. According to ESPN.com, Schaub was set to make $5.5 million in salary-cap space this year and he is being released after the team paid him $8 million last season to back up Derek Carr. The team originally traded for Schaub and he was expected to start for the team, but lost out on the starting job.
--UPDATE: Reports have Trent Richardson closing in on a deal with the Raiders, per Bill Williamson at ESPN.com. Richardson was previously released by the Colts and the Raiders need some RB help for Latavius Murray after Darren McFadden signed with the Cowboys. Richardson has signed with the Raiders on a new deal.
The move frees up cap space for the Raiders and that is why they could go after some free agents on the market. Bill Williamson at ESPN writes that the remaining needs for the team include wide receiver, tight end, running back, offensive line and defensive end. Williamson writes that Gresham has been a target and while the talks between the two have "slowed down" there is a chance they could jump back in and sign him soon.
Michael Crabtree is the top free agent left on the market and other names available include Greg Jennings and Hakeem Nicks. Dwayne Bowe was released by the Chiefs, but all signs have pointed to him signing with the Browns. The Raiders may also look at Hakeem Nicks after he signed a one year deal with the Colts last season, while Jennings could be a solid depth option after being released by the Vikings.
Crabtree comes in after making 68 catches last season and that was down from his last full season in 2012 when he set career highs with 85 catches and 1105 yards. Crabtree has been up and down during his rime in San Francisco, but he is still fairly young and could be a productive number two or number three receiver moving forward.
The draft could also be a good option for the team to fill needs, including at running backs and wide receiver. The team has the number four overall pick and many have suggested that the team is targeting Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. There are a number of strong options in the first round, with prospects like Kevin White and DeVante Parker also available. The running back position has a deep class and the team could look at taking someone in the later rounds. Some RB prospects include Ameer Abdullah, Todd Gurley Melvin Gordon and TJ Yeldon.
The team made a number of moves this offseason, including signing Curtis Lofton and Roy Helu along with Rodney Hudson, Malcolm Smith and Nate Allen. The team did not make any major splashes, but they added some quality players and Reggie McKenzie said that he is excited about the "youth" among the veteran players he signed. Last offseason McKenzie went for older players, adding James Jones, Justin Tuck and Maurice Jones-Drew.
