The Oakland Raiders have been active in free agency this offseason and they could continue down that path, as players like Michael Crabtree, Jermaine Gresham, Trent Richardson, Greg Hardy and Cecil Shorts could be options for the team and this comes as the team is likely bringing in Christian Ponder to be the backup for Derek Carr over Matt Schaub.
The Raiders missed out on the major free agents like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin and Julius Thomas, but they have still made a number of strong moves that should help the team in 2015. According to ESPN.com, the team signed Nate Allen to a free agent contract and this comes after they also added James Dockery, Dan Williams, Lee Smith, Rodney Hudson and Curtis Lofton. The team also added Roy Helu on a two year deal with Darren McFadden hitting free agency.
--UPDATE: Percy Harvin has signed with the Bills. The Raiders may consider Christian Ponder after he came in for a visit. Mark Davis said the team is NOT going after Greg Hardy. UPDATE: The team is signing Ponder to a deal.
The team is also losing Maurice Jones-Drew to retirement and that could lead to looking at running backs in the draft or in free agency. NFL.com lists CJ Spiller, Reggie Bush and Ben Tate as some of the best options left, while Trent Richardson is also an option with his release from the Colts. Richardson was a former number three pick and his time in Indy was not successful, but he could be a nice low risk, high upside option for many teams.
Pro Football Talk reports that Michael Crabtree could be a potential target, as the Raiders may want to add more weapons on the outside for Derek Carr. The team has Mychal Rivera at tight end and James Jones at wide receiver, but both positions could use more depth. Scott Chandler and Jermaine Gresham are free agents on the market, while the WR position has Cecil Shorts, Hakeem Nicks and Stevie Johnson after his release from the 49ers.
Percy Harvin was released by the Jets and NFL.com reports that the Patriots, Browns and Bills are his main suitors, while the Raiders could sneak in if those deals fall through. The Raiders were looking at Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron on the market, but after those players signed, they could look at a cheap option like Chandler, who was released by the Bills as they chased Charles Clay. Richardson could be a low-risk option, as he is coming off of two disappointing seasons with the Colts and could use a change of scheme and scenery to bounce back.
The Raiders won just three games last season and they have a top four draft pick and could look at Amari Cooper as an option. Kevin White has blazing speed and DeVante Parker is also a target and this comes as Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are considered to be the two top players in the draft. The team will not be going after a QB since they have Carr and that means he may get a top offensive weapon at number four.
According to Silver and Black Pride at SBNation.com, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that Greg Hardy could be a target for the Raiders. The report says that the team "has interest" in Hardy, as he is not heading back to the Panthers after dealing with legal issues last season. Hardy is a Pro Bowl player and he could be facing league discipline for his case last year.
