Oakland Raiders: 6 Questions the Team Must Answer Quickly

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle

(90) in action against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Is Ndamukong Suh Really Worth Up to $20 Million a Season?

Another big ticket item on the Raiders’ agenda this offseason is improving their defensive front, as well as their ability to beat down opposing quarterbacks.

Enter Ndamukong Suh.

The biggest name in free agency this offseason – literally and figuratively – Suh can be a game changer for the Raiders. He can take their defense, with their building blocks like Mack, Sio Moore, Ellis, Hayden, and Carrie, and help make them fierce. He can help make them elite. His presence can absolutely alter the Raiders’ defensive fortunes for some time to come.

But how much would it cost to get him into a Silver and Black jersey? Most estimates put it at about $20 million a season. He’s looking to become the highest paid defensive player in the league, and with Texans’ stud J.J. Watt already with a contract over $100 million, Suh is going to looking for a payday in excess of that.

But is he worth it? Especially with more affordable options like Terrance Knighton out there – a player who wants to come to Oakland, wants to play for Del Rio, and will cost significantly less. No, Knighton is no Suh, but he can be very effective, and can have a tremendous impact on the field for Oakland.

The Raiders are expected to host Suh for a visit next week, and we’ll likely know more at that point. But it might not be wise to break the bank, and potentially mortgage the future – after all, if Carr is the franchise QB the Raiders believe him to be, he’ll need to get paid at some point too – for just one player. Even if that player is a defensive beast like Suh.

Next: Question #6 - Playoffs?