Oakland Raiders: Strong Offseason is Key to Rising Back to Top
This offseason will go a long way in establishing the Oakland Raiders as a team on the rise or a team in need of another overhaul from top to bottom. It’s been more than a decade since the Raiders have had a winning season, and there have been many reasons for their inability to re-establish themselves as a perennial power in the NFL.
There have been many widely discussed draft busts and numerous signings of free agents who most NFL insiders perceived to be aging players past their prime, and this has led to a string of losing seasons and disgruntled Raider fans longing for a return to the glory years.
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There are Raider fans – and critics – who believe the Raiders’ 2014 draft class will be the building blocks used to get the Raiders back to respectability and, the ultimate goal, a Super Bowl Championship.
The Raiders used their first pick in the Draft, the number fifth overall pick, to draft Khalil Mack, who, early on, proved to be one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the NFL even as a rookie.
In the second round, they picked what many NFL experts see as their potential franchise quarterback in Derek Carr whose leadership skills, combined with his quick release and knowledge of the game, allowed him to be the only rookie quarterback to start all 16 games and throw for 3,270 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
When it comes to the NFL Draft, there are no guarantees. For every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell that pundits will point to as a draft bust.
The Raiders are looking to build on the foundation of the 2014 draft class by following up with another stellar class in 2015. They currently have the number four overall pick but may be looking to parlay that into multiple selections to fill the many holes that exist on the roster.
Coming off a 3-13 record and having plenty of needs, the Raiders could go in many directions with their picks, but the vast majority of NFL insiders believe the Raiders’ main needs are a great pass rusher, game-breaking receiver and shutdown corner.
This year, draft prospects can go a long way into filling those needs. There is the relentless pass rusher Leonard Williams out of USC, the speedy sure-handed receiver Amari Cooper from Alabama and Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, who is the top defensive back on many draft boards. All three prospects could truly bolster the Raiders’ roster many believe is lacking in depth and talent.
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When it comes to the NFL Draft, there are no guarantees. For every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell that pundits will point to as draft bust, and unfortunately for many NFL teams, a miss at the top of the Draft can change the course of a franchise for years.
The Draft, although very important to building a team, is not the only factor in turning around a franchises fortunes. Free agency has become a vital part of the rebuilding process in the NFL. Going after and obtaining the right free agents can help bring a franchise out of obscurity into a potential playoff contender quickly.
The goal is to bring in players either in their prime or players who teams feel have a high ceiling and, with development, can turn into something special. The past few years, the Raiders have brought in aging veterans in the twilight of their careers who just don’t have enough left in the tank to change the fortunes of a team in need of talent and experience.
The Raiders are in need of an influx of talent on both sides of the ball, and this year’s Draft and free agency period will go a long way in determining how fast the franchise can get back to chasing championships and raising that Lombardi trophy.