Oakland Raiders: McKenzie’s 5 “Riskiest” Moves So Far This Offseason

May 28, 2013; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie watches quarterback Matt Flynn (15) take the snap at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Having cut his teeth in the Green Bay Packers’ organization, Oakland Raiders‘ GM Reggie McKenzie isn’t what you would call a real gambler. As the Raiders struggled to get out from under the albatross that late owner Al Davis left around the team’s neck in the form of bloated contracts for fading stars, dead money, and a lack of draft picks, Oakland has benefited tremendously from McKenzie’s risk aversion.

But for the last two years, because of McKenzie’s deft – but frugal – management of the salary cap, the Raiders have enjoyed a tremendous surplus of cash. Now, there is of course, plenty of room to debate the merits of how McKenzie has spent that huge surplus of cash – in some cases, not very wisely. But unlike his predecessor, at least McKenzie has signed his free agent busts like LaMarr Woodley and Carlos Rogers to team friendly deals that haven’t hamstrung the organization when the time came to part ways.

Despite some real free agent stinkers, McKenzie has kept the team in very good financial shape – something that will be very important down the road.

He has also had full slates of draft picks to work with the last two seasons, and – Tyler Wilson notwithstanding – he’s really cashed in on some of those selections. In 2013, McKenzie really did his homework and picked up some very strong contributors to the team in players like Sio Moore, Latavius Murray, and Mychal Rivera.

Dec 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) high fives tight end Mychal Rivera (81) ahead of Oakland Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano after the extra point after River

In 2014, McKenzie scored even higher by picking up some real foundation pieces that the Raiders can build upon in QB Derek Carr and LB Khalil Mack. In the later rounds, he also found some hidden gems like Justin Ellis, Gabe Jackson, and Travis Carrie.

McKenzie’s frugality, though frustrating to many, has given the team the flexibility to sign some free agents, as well as have enough money to start locking down some of the team’s budding young stars. The draft class of 2013 will become eligible to receive contract extensions following this season, so it might make sense to lock them up now.

There is no question that last season’s free agent class was a disaster. Justin Tuck and Tarell Brown were really the only ones who panned out. While not dominant, both played well for Oakland in 2014. Tuck is returning, but Brown has been allowed to seek employment elsewhere.

This year’s free agent class though, has been something of a 180 for McKenzie. He hasn’t targeted nor signed free agents nearing the twilight of their careers simply because he could get them on the cheap. He’s targeted and signed younger talent — something Oakland desperately needed. And he’s been able to lock most of them up at team friendly rates while addressing most of the team’s glaring areas of need.

Every free agent McKenzie has signed this offseason has been a tremendous upgrade of talent on the roster. – Christian Ponder notwithstanding.

Unlike past seasons, McKenzie even went after some of this free agency period’s biggest fish in the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, and DeMarco Murray. Of course, he came up empty on all of them, but at least he gave it a run this season.

It has almost been like a new Reggie McKenzie this offseason. Of course, his trademarked frugality is still apparent, but McKenzie has been making some very interesting, and perhaps even a touch risky – well, as risky as McKenzie gets anyway – this offseason.

While some of McKenzie’s moves may blow up in his face, some of them have the potential to be huge rewards for the team. Of course he’s done his level best to make them as low risk as possible, but if he’s able to get a solid return on his investment out of these free agents, there is a real possibility that Oakland can make a very serious run at the postseason.

If.

With that in mind then, let’s look at five of McKenzie’s “riskiest” moves this offseason – and remember, the term “risky” is somewhat subjective when it comes to Reggie McKenzie. While we may not see the risk, some of these moves are positively going out on a limb for McKenzie.

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