The Oakland Raiders have been very active in free agency this offseason and that could continue with names like Knowshon Moreno, Maurice Jones-Drew, Andre Brown or Willis McGahee at running back, while Reggie McKenzie could look for a trade for Chris Johnson with Terrelle Pryor along with draft picks to get the team in position to take Carlos Hyde, Andre Williams, Tre Mason or Bishop Sankey, as those players could help add depth behind Darren McFadden after Rashad Jennings signed with the Giants.
The Raiders traded for Matt Schaub this offseason and he will take over as the starting quarterback for Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin and now the team is focusing on bolstering the offense around him. Reggie McKenzie brought back Darren McFadden on a one year deal after he was injured again last season and after losing Rashad Jennings to the Giants, the team still has moves to make at the running back position, as Latavius Murray may not be ready for a feature role after missing all of last season as a rookie with an injury.
The team could look to the draft with one of their later picks, as they have the number five overall pick but that won't be for a running back and names like Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason or Bishop Sankey as well as Andre Williams and Ka'Deem Carey could be options in the later rounds. The free agent market has some names the Raiders could sign in Moreno, Andre Brown and Jones-Drew, but so far there has not been much heat on them from Oakland and Moreno could end up back with the Denver Broncos if he doesn't sign a deal with the Miami Dolphins.
The Raiders hoped that Darren McFadden could get over his injury issues last season, but that never materialized and now he is back on a one year deal looking to prove himself. The team ranked 12th in the league in rushing despite dealing with the injuries to McFadden, but now that their leading rusher in Jennings is gone, they need to find a way to make up for that production. Moreno could be a great fit and the Raiders have the cap space to make a deal, as he is coming off of a career year with the Broncos after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns for the first time and he proved to be a very good receiver out of the backfield as well.
Jones-Drew has dealt with some injuries over the past few years and while the Jaguars have said they are open to bringing him back, so far he has not signed and the Steelers were a team that also showed interest. Last season he rushed for a solid 803 yards, but averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry and that could be a red flag for the team. The Chris Johnson trade could be an option as well since the Raiders have the cap space, but $8 million is a lot for a wide receiver and that might be too much for the Raiders after they already pulled off a trade for Schaub this offseason. McKenzie may look to the draft instead and the team should be in position to get a player like Hyde or Mason.
