The Oakland Raiders may look at making some significant moves this offseason with trade deals or in free agency, as players like Andre Johnson, Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, DeAngelo Williams, Trent Richardson, DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Maclin, Randall Cobb, Ndamukong Suh and Julius Thomas could be potential targets for GM Reggie McKenzie.
The Raiders are coming off of a three win season and over the past three years they have won just 11 games and now will try and pull out of this steady decline. According to ESPN.com reporter Bill Williamson, McKenzie will have about $55 million in projected cap space and possibly more depending on where the final payroll number comes in. Williamson writes that while McKenzie was active in free agency last year, the team did not sign any major contracts that will stop them from spending in 2015.
Williamson adds that this was by design, as the 2015 class is deeper and more talented than the group that hit the market last year. According to Williamson, some names the team may target includes Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, DeMarco Murray, Terrance Knighton, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, as the team needs help ion both sides of the ball. The Raiders have the money to spend to compete with teams in free agency and that could price out players from their current clubs.
Williamson also took questions at ESPN about the Raiders offseason plans and trade options came up, including Andre Johnson, Vincent Jackson and Mike Wallace. Lynch was also mentioned, but based on recent reports, he will either be signing with the Seahawks or strongly considering retirement. The Raiders likely will focus more on free agency since they have put more of a focus on keeping draft picks and developing players, but if the right deal came along, expect the team to jump at it. McKenzie wants to add playmakers for Carr and if Wallace, Johnson or Jackson is available for a decent draft pick, the team could try and pull it off.
Of the three, Johnson is likeliest to stay, as the Texans have a desire to keep him, but they may want him to take a pay cut and that could lead to a negotiation. Johnson is older than Wallace and Jackson and earlier this season, the Houston Chronicle reported that he would not accept a pay cut from the team. Wallace is a potential trade target after the way he finished the season, as reports had him taking himself out of the game against the Jets in Week 17.
General manager Dennis Hickey and Wallace met this offseason and if the team can't get Wallace tor restructure his deal, he could be traded. According to Barry Jackson on Twitter, the Dolphins were noncommittal about Wallace at the combine and they could make a move on him soon, as he is set to be paid a workout bonus and a $9.9 million salary.
The Raiders may look at running backs on the market with Darren McFadden hitting free agency and names like DeAngelo Williams, DeMarco Murray, Trent Richardson and Frank Fore could be options. Williams was just released by the Panthers, while Richardson could be moving on from the Colts after being suspended at the end of last season.
