Oakland Raiders' possible $69 million cap space in 2014

[Yatagarasu]

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/04/05/oakland-raiders-to-be-69-million-under-cap-in-2014/

Well all that losing and cutting have to result in something. $69 million in cap space is ridiculous. Even this year, the Raiders are facing a tough season now that they traded up a back-up QB in Flynn and cut everything up on the defense. I assume they're going to save some of that money to sign their star players if they have any to long-term contracts. However, McFadden to a long-term deal is tough to agree upon since he always end up broken.

[u][b]Possible Long-Terms:[/b][/u]
[b]Jared [/b][b]Veldheer [/b]- A big and strong LT that can anchor the OL.
[b]Lamarr Houston [/b]- A young and effective DT/DE
[b]Jacoby Ford [/b]- Speedster that can stretch the field
[b]Marcel Reece [/b]- An effective FB who can play the pass catching role
[b]Darren McFadden[/b] - An explosive top ten talent, if not injured

[u][b]2014 Top Free Agents:[/b][/u]

[u][b]QB:[/b][/u]
[b]Jay Cutler [/b]- He's the top free agent QB next year, if he doesn't get tagged.

[u][b]WR:[/b][/u]
[b]Hakeem Nicks [/b]- He's injury-proned, but talent. However, the Raiders have a young talented core to grow with.
[b]Jeremy Maclin[/b] - He had an up-and-down season and had show some flash as a 1st round talent, but plenty of disappointment

[u][b]TE:[/b][/u]
[b]Jermichael Finley[/b] - He has all the tools to be a big threat at TE, but haven't put it together yet after that huge contract.
[b]Greg Olsen[/b] - Underrated, but effective passing TE

[u][b]OL:[/b][/u]
[b]Michael Oher [/b]- Oher has been very durable and is a serviceable starter that the Raider can use to solidify their OL.
[b]Branden Albert [/b]- He has the tools to be an effective left tackle, but injuries have limited his production

[u][b]DL:[/b][/u]
[b]Jared Allen [/b]- He's been declining, but can still produce double digit sacks
[b]Michael Johnson [/b]- Young and talented DE who can kick to SLB, which is a position of interest to the Raiders
[b]Michael Bennett[/b] - Underrated and serviceable DE
[b]Randy Starks[/b] - He's an effective DT that does everything well
[b]Arthur Jones[/b] - He is very underrated, but has the tools to be a very good starter

[b]LB:[/b]
[b]Brian Orakpo [/b]- A beast who can provide that 3-4 OLB position, if the Raiders decide to transition.
[b]Lance Briggs[/b] - An aging, but still effective LB

[b]DB:[/b]
[b]Charles Tillman [/b]- Aging, yet one of the most productive CBs in the league
[b]Dominique Rodger-Cromartie[/b] - He has all the tools to be productive, but needs to put in together. Raiders might pay the big bucks, if they like what they see out of DR

There's not a lot of big names for the Raiders to invest on. Most of the quality free agents are coming back from the one year contracts they signed this past offseason due to the downed market. GM McKenzie can invest that money to make a formidable Defensive Front and might finally invest in transforming the defense into a 3-4 by bring in key pieces. I think their money investment will be on the defensive side to make that 3-4 defense. A player like Brian Orakpo or Michael Johnson would be their biggest target.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

i saw this yesterday and was just WOW... that'll be a lot of cap space... and they're more likely going to be drafting in the first 10 again - their new GM is onto something

[BloodRaven]

Dennis Pitta?

[Mt. Crushmore]

The only problem is their GM came over from the Packers who don't spend big money on FAs.

[RavensAllTheWay]

Yeah, McKenzie came from the Packers, so it looks like he knows what he's doing.

[Gordo52]

They should've locked up Brandon Meyers IMO.

I think they'll be the worst team so Clowney is a real possibility. In 2-3 years if they find a quarterback they could be a good team. Sooner if Flynn pans out.

[Yatagarasu]

They might have $69 million dollars, but also they only have 28 players under contract next year plus the 7 draft picks they will sign this year. That means they have fill up 25 spots for 2014 season.

[Yatagarasu]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/cap-hit/2014/

Building through the draft is fine, but when you have this much excess of cap plus a lot of lack of talents, then you have to either save the money to lock up your stars, which they have very little or bring in some quality free agents. Brian Orakpo is probably the free agent they should look into because he can anchor the 3-4 defense.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='Corvus Amplus' timestamp='1365553674' post='1429014']
[url="http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/cap-hit/2014/"]http://www.spotrac.c...s/cap-hit/2014/[/url]

Building through the draft is fine, but when you have this much excess of cap plus a lot of lack of talents, then you have to either save the money to lock up your stars, which they have very little or bring in some quality free agents. Brian Orakpo is probably the free agent they should look into because he can anchor the 3-4 defense.
[/quote]
Raiders run a 4-3 tho

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1365567228' post='1429172']
Raiders run a 4-3 tho
[/quote]
Stop using logic.

[SecretAgentMan]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365567375' post='1429175']

Stop using logic.
[/quote]
Using logic is too mainstream

[Guest nflfan123]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1365550860' post='1428979']
They should've locked up Brandon Meyers IMO.

I think they'll be the worst team so Clowney is a real possibility. In 2-3 years if they find a quarterback they could be a good team. Sooner if Flynn pans out.
[/quote]
Overrated. Bad pass blocker, couldn't make plays after the catch. Good hands though. Hope he hooks up well with Eli, he was a good guy.

[Guest nflfan123]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1365567228' post='1429172']
Raiders run a 4-3 tho
[/quote]
they are switching to a 3-4

[Guest nflfan123]

It is actually $79 million via ESPN
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]
[color=#333333][font=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]ESPN.com's John Clayton writes, "The good news for Raiders fans is that years of being in cap purgatory end after this season. [/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]The Raiders currently have $79 million of cap room next year; that's $40 million more than the next closest team.", [/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]21 players under contract. [/size][/font][/color][/font][/color]

[Gordo52]

[quote name='nflfan123' timestamp='1365568249' post='1429185']

Overrated. Bad pass blocker, couldn't make plays after the catch. Good hands though. Hope he hooks up well with Eli, he was a good guy.
[/quote]
Now a days it seems TE's are not being asked to block as much, they're asked to catch way more and line up in the slot. Having a sure handed, veteran option who knows the offense would be good for any young QB in the future imo.

[redrum52]

[quote name='Corvus Amplus' timestamp='1365553674' post='1429014']
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/cap-hit/2014/

Building through the draft is fine, but when you have this much excess of cap plus a lot of lack of talents, then you have to either save the money to lock up your stars, which they have very little or bring in some quality free agents. Brian Orakpo is probably the free agent they should look into because he can anchor the 3-4 defense.
[/quote]

This seems like a perfect job opportunity to me. A coach can come in and work with their gm to find players they want to build around. No guys locked in and can structure the team exactly to your liking without upsetting vets cause they have a young team. The gm also has experience in a winning organization. They should look for a coach they trust and just be patient with him. No need to waste money on an expensive FA unless you feel they're a key building block for the future.

[Mt. Crushmore]

[quote name='nflfan123' timestamp='1365568249' post='1429185']

Overrated. Bad pass blocker, couldn't make plays after the catch. Good hands though. Hope he hooks up well with Eli, he was a good guy.
[/quote]

Giants only got him for 1 year $2.5 or $2.25 million.

[Guest nflfan123]

[quote name='Mt. Crushmore' timestamp='1365905702' post='1433182']
Giants only got him for 1 year $2.5 or $2.25 million.
[/quote]
I know, he wasn't in new GM Reggie McKenzie's plans I guess. He was drafted by Al Davis.