The Oakland Raiders are coming into the 2015 offseason with a high amount of cap space and Reggie McKenzie may target names like Ndamukong Suh, Byron Maxwell, CJ Spiller, Greg Hardy, Jeremy Maclin, Julius Thomas, Hakeem Nicks, Jordan Cameron, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley or Torrey Smith, while Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch and Mike Wallace also could be targets if they become available.
The Raiders are projected to have over $45 million in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap, and McKenzie may use a large chunk of it to bring talent to Oakland. Jack Del Rio is taking over as head coach after previously being with the Denver Broncos and he said he thinks the team has strong potential to build a winner. Del Rio praised quarterback Derek Carr and McKenzie now has the chance to add weapons for him on offense.
Suh is looking for a huge contract and the Raiders have the money to afford that, while Jeremy Maclin and Randall Cobb are two wide receiver targets that could leave their teams. Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant are the top WR options, but they are widely expected to remain with their teams on free agent contracts or franchise tag deals. Maclin and Cobb are each coming off career seasons and could price out of Philly and Green Bay if they ask for too much money.
Suh is a likely target since the Raiders rush defense was ranked in the bottom half of the league last season in yards allowed. Suh automatically changes the complexion of a defense and he is looking for a contract worth $100 million with over $40 million guaranteed, according to the Detroit Free Press. Julius Thomas may leave the Broncos with the team looking to sign Demaryius and teams like the Raiders and Browns have the cap space to offer him a big contract. Thomas has had 24 touchdown catches over the last two seasons.
Players like Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Wallace also could be available this offseason and while they are longshots, the Raiders could target them. Peterson is making over $10 million and counts as $15 million on the cap for the Vikings and that could lead to the team considering releasing him once his suspension is lifted.
Peterson rushed for only 75 yards in one game last season, but over the previous two seasons he rushed for over 3000 yards combined. Lynch is also a potential option, as his future in Seattle remains up in the air. Reports have Lynch thinking about retirement, but there is a chance he could get released and if that happens, expect the Dolphins and the Raiders to target him, along with the Cowboys.
Last offseason the Raiders were active in free agency, adding players like Justin Tuck, James Jones, Maurice Jones-Drew and LaMarr Woodley, but they didn't anyone to cap-breaking contracts. McKenzie had the most cap space last offseason and smartly did not use all of it, as the 2015 class is deeper and much more talented than 2014. The Raiders have actually done a strong job building the roster with young talent from the draft, as Carr, Latavius Murray, Khalil Mack and Mychal Rivera have potential.
