Oakland Raiders: 5 Free Agents the Team Must Avoid

Dec 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end

(42) runs past Baltimore Ravens defensive end

(99) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Ravens won 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Given their many and various needs, the Oakland Raiders‘ front office is bound to be a busy place these days. At least, fans are hoping that it’s a beehive of activity.

Here we are, a little more than a week from when NFL clubs can start negotiating with and signing free agents. For veterans recently cut by their clubs – most victims of the salary cap – they’re free to sign with anybody right now. Roster cuts have a head start on those free agents who must wait until the official free agency window opens on March 10.

We’ve already seen a flurry of activity as some teams scramble to sign some of these players who have been allowed to walk away from their former clubs. We’ve seen former Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh McCown – unexpectedly cut last month – sign on with the circus sideshow that is the Cleveland Browns. And former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Ricky Jean Francois signed on to be part of the circus sideshow/dramatic soap opera in Washington.

McCown and Francois are the first dominoes to fall in the free agency derby, but as we get closer to the FA window opening, look for players to start signing on the dotted line before the market gets diluted with a slew of players looking to get paid handsomely for changing jerseys.

So what does this mean for the Raiders? Quite a lot actually. Though they undoubtedly have their sights set on some of the bigger names out there – Randall Cobb, Terrance Knighton, Julius Thomas – they should also be parsing through some of the veteran cuts in an attempt to add some quality depth to the roster.

Some of these veteran cuts can likely be had at a reasonable price, and even though they have a ton of space under the cap, GM Reggie McKenzie must still be judicious about where he’s pouring his cash. The Raiders can ill afford another bust of a free agency class like the Raiders signed on in 2014.

Because they have so many holes to fill on the roster, the Raiders can and will be linked with virtually any and all free agents to hit the market. While some are undoubtedly worth kicking the tires on – A.J. Hawk? Darnell Dockett? – there are some who they should avoid at all costs.

Here are just five of the current free agents on the market that Oakland should resist any and all temptation to sign.

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