Oakland Raiders: Grading Reggie McKenzie’s Offseason Moves To This Point

Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie hasn’t been overly busy this offseason, making a few targeted signings, but none that have made a real splash – let’s grade his offseason moves to this point.

When free agency started, most expected that Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie would be targeting some of the marquee defensive free agents on the market. With glaring needs on that side of the ball, most anticipated that McKenzie – despite somewhat limited flexibility under the cap – would make a run at adding some top-flight talent to the front seven.

But after the first couple of weeks of free agency, Oakland’s needs are largely the same as they were when the free agency window opened.

This isn’t to say that McKenzie hasn’t made some decent moves in free agency, this is simply to say that the biggest, most glaring needs on the team – defensive tackle and inside linebacker – haven’t yet been fully addressed.

Many thought that given the team’s needs, McKenzie would pursue Dont’a Hightower, Kevin Minter, Dontari Poe, Calais Campbell, or any number of other impact free agents. But nothing ever materialized. The closest the team got was having Zach Brown in the building for what seemed like five minutes before the linebacker departed without a deal – though he did send a Tweet that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

No, free agency hasn’t gone the way many envisioned it would go. It’s been – surprising. But that isn’t to say it’s been a bust. The Raiders have added a little talent and are steaming toward the Draft with the idea of adding more.

So, with that in mind – and knowing that there may yet still be plenty of moves made – let’s grade McKenzie’s free agent moves so far…