Oakland Raiders: 5 Players The Team Should Consider Pink-Slipping

Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is going to have to make some tough decisions this offseason to keep building this team – here are five players he should consider pink-slipping.

Over the last couple of seasons, Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie has had an abundance of cap space to work with. And he’s done an amazing job of stocking this roster with talent. From building the line with Rodney Hudson and Kelechi Osemele, to fortifying the secondary with David Amerson and Sean Smith, McKenzie has helped transform perennial doormats into title contenders.

And now – with the talent level rising and expectations sky high – comes the hard part. To keep building this team and have it continue trending in the right direction, McKenzie is going to have to sign more talent – and part ways with others.

This year, assuming the cap sits at about $168 million as has been projected, McKenzie is only going to have about $35-36 million dollars under the cap to play with sounds like a decent amount of cash, but with monster paydays coming for Derek Carr and Khalil Mack, that number actually isn’t nearly as big as it sounds.

Especially when there are some serious upgrades needed along the defensive line and the linebackers group, most prominently.

Having to balance loyalty with production is a tricky, sometimes heart-wrenching thing. Having to say goodbye to fan favorites or longtime veterans in the name of keeping the team on an upward trajectory is no easy feat.

Though, it’s something that Bill Belichick and the Patriots have turned into something of an art form. Perhaps no other team has mastered the fact that football is a business better than they have – as evidenced by a decade and a half of dominance.

And that is something McKenzie and the Raiders are going to have to use as a blueprint if they want to keep this team in contention for the foreseeable future.

Which brings us to the point – the team needs some upgrades if they want to make the jump to the next level. But with big deals coming for Carr and Mack – and less cash on hand than they’ve had in previous years – it’s going to be difficult.

But this team can save quite a bit – and perhaps increase their chances of adding needed impact players – by dumping some salaries from the roster.

Following, are five players the Raiders can safely cut and save about $20 million dollars – raising their cash under the cap to about $53 million or so. If they can do that, it ups their chances of landing a player like Dont’a Hightower or Tony Jefferson – and perhaps with a little finagling of the contracts, even both.

Adding those two players by shedding some salaries can help this team make the leap to the next level. But to do that, they’ll have to say goodbye to a few players like these…