The Oakland Raiders are coming into the 2014 season with high expectations and with CJ Spiller possibly on the trading block with the Buffalo Bills, the team could look at a trade for the running back, as the Raiders may need some support for Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew in the offense after losing leading rusher Rashad Jennings to the NY Giants in free agency.
According to NFL.com, the Buffalo Bills may look at a Spiller trade this summer or this season, as the two sides have not been able to agree on a contract extension. NFL.com reports that Spiller said he has heard about the trade talk and is trying to block it out and one reason why it has come up is how the Bills have solidified the position past Spiller. The team signed Fred Jackson to a one year extension and they also added Bryce Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Doug Marrone has spoken about using a two back rotation and not three (or four with Anthony Dixon) and while Spiller likely will be that main back since he has the most talent of the group, the contract issues could play a part. The Bills got a great season from Spiller two years ago and last season he had a bit of a down year and now there is a chance he could get traded in the near future.
Last season Spiller had 933 yards on the ground in 15 games and that was much less than the year before when he set a career high with 1,244 yards and six touchdowns. Spiller has also been great out of the backfield, adding 459 yards two years ago and it was down to 185 yards last season. Spiller isn't breaking down, but he went from six yards per carry to just over four and half last season and while that's still good, it could be one reason why the Bills bulked up at RB.
Last season the Raiders had Rashad Jennings as their leading rusher and now he is gone to the Giants, while Darren McFadden was injured. The team signed Maurice Jones-Drew, but he is getting up there in age and adding someone like Spiller could really open up the offense.
The Raiders are coming into the season after another 4-12 campaign and while they made a ton of free agent signings this offseason, they still have some areas of need on offense. McFadden came back cheap and Jones-Drew is solid, but he is old and injury prone and if Latavius Murray can't step up, a trade for Spiller could be an option. The team has draft picks to move and they likely will be done with McFadden this year and they could try and keep Spiller if they make the move once he is a free agent.
This offseason the team brought over Matt Schaub in a trade and they also signed James Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew along with Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley and those all should lead to improvements on both sides of the ball. Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie have plenty riding on this season and they are looking for improvements
