With the lockout almost over, according to league sources, I figured I would start to look at what the 2011-2012 Oakland Raiders might look like. With the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement still unknown it is still unclear exactly which players will be available. That being said, here is an attempt to try to figure out what could/should happen.
Most people would think Nnamdi Asomougha is our most important free agent to hold on to, but I believe Zach Miller is more important. Zach Miller is a much needed weapon for the offense. The money it would cost to keep Asomougha could be spent on other players that could help the team. Jonathan Joseph or even Carlos Rogers could be added to help out the secondary. Even as great as Nnamdi is he might prove to be far to expensive, even for Al Davis. Another member of the secondary that will most likely be gone is Michael Huff. I believe he will want more than he is worth and it wouldn’t bother me if he is gone. Michael Mitchell, Tyvon Branch, and Stevie Brown can do just fine without him. Michael Bush is a player that could really go either way. I like the tandem of Bush and McFadden but I wouldn’t be surprised if Bush went somewhere else to be more of a feature back. If he does go there is a long list of potential free agents at RB that could fill the void. It is time to cut ties with Mario Henderson and Cooper Carlisle on the OL. Robert Gallery will most likely follow Tom Cable to Seattle leaving Jared Veldheer and rookie Stefen Wisniewski to anchor the “bully” that coach Hue Jackson wants to have on offense. Daniel Loper played well when Gallery was injured and look for Bruce Campbell and rookie Joseph Barksdale to also compete for playing time. There are some big names available at WR and as much as Raiders fans would like some of these guys, I don’t believe they will spend much money there. Although it would be nice to add a veteran WR like Santana Moss, who is familiar with Jason Campbell, and shouldn’t cost as much as Sidney Rice or Santonio Holmes. I don’t expect much to change on the DL. Richard Seymour,Lamarr Houston, Tommie Kelly, and Matt Shaughnessy, enough said. It would be smart to add to the LB corps to try to improve the run defense which again was horrible last year. Look for Rolando McClain to step his game up in his second year and Kamerion Wimbley showed he is an excellent pass rusher, but they could still use some help.
With the free agency frenzy just a couple of days away(fingers crossed) we will see how all of these things shake out. One thing is for certain though, I am ready for some Raider football.
