Oakland Raiders: Grading Out the Free Agent Class So Far

December 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie (left) and owner Mark Davis (right) before the game against the Buffalo Bills at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

We should probably blame Oakland Raiders’ owner Mark Davis and GM Reggie McKenzie for getting all of our hopes up. With all of their talk about Brinks trucks, impact players instead of role players, and huge splashes in free agency, Davis and McKenzie set up what are turning out to be some really unrealistic – and ultimately, unfulfilled – expectations for the Raider faithful during the free agency period.

Gone are names like Randall Cobb, Ndamukong Suh, Jeremy Maclin, Terrance Knighton, Julius Thomas, and DeMarco Murray, among others. Despite having more money than can actually fit in a Brinks truck, and being able to spread it around freely, McKenzie has been having a hard time finding anybody to actually take his money.

In some cases, it’s probably for the best. Knighton for instance, was vastly overvaluing himself, and McKenzie wasn’t willing to overpay for him. Especially when he was able to haul in an arguably better alternative at a much friendlier price.

It’s disappointing for Raiders’ fans to see the marquee free agents taking a pass on joining the Silver and Black, perpetuating the perception that Oakland is not a place the NFL elite are willing to play, and the Raiders are not a team they are willing to play for. In the minds of many, Oakland is a place where veterans can go to watch their careers wither and die.

But if you can remove the emotion from it, take a step back, and really look at some of the pieces McKenzie has been able to add to the Raiders’ roster, you would have to conclude that he actually hasn’t done a bad job managing free agency. No, he hasn’t lured any marquee names to Oakland, but he’s added some very solid pieces, some big upgrades, and some players who will really contribute to this team.

The talent level in Oakland is rising. Superstars are nice, but one or two superstars alone will not win you a championship. A cohesive unit, a team all pulling together and fighting for the exact same goals has a better chance of winning than a team that has a superstar or two on its roster.

And looking at the makeup of Oakland’s roster – as well as the coaching staff who will mold those players – despite the absence of many marquee names, there is reason to be optimistic. This squad is shaping up to be a reflection of its coach – a blue collar guy who isn’t about style, but is about substance.

While no team is going to hit it out of the park on every one of their free agent acquisitions, if you can hit more than you miss, you’re going to be in good shape at the end of the day.

While things are still fluid, and with players still being cut and signed, there is no doubt that Oakland – with its pile of cash and the league mandate to spend it – will be adding more players between now and the draft. But let’s grade out the Raiders’ free agent additions so far…

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