The Oakland Raiders are right up against the cap, but they have a number of moves they can still make that would help them get further under and enable them to be players in free agency, as they could go after running back Reggie Bush or defensive end Cliff Avril in free agency.
The team has already signaled that they would like to rework quarterback Carson Palmer's deal so that his $15.335 million cap hit is more manageable and the team also needs to figure out which of their free agents they need t target, including Brandon Myers, Derek Hagan, Matt Leinart and Shane Lechler, who has been one of the nest punters in NFL history.
The Raiders ranked eighth in the league in passing last season, mainly because they were coming from behind so much, but they also need to focus in on running the ball more and that could be where Bush can help them. Although he will be asking for a decent contract, there is a chance he could take less money to head back to California, where he played his college ball at USC.
Darren McFadden has proven to be a solid player for the Raiders, but he has been inured a decent amount and Bush could provide that type of insurance the team is looking for. Bush is valuable in the passing and returning game and he proved over his two years in Miami that he can be an every-down back, as he rushed for over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in his two seasons with the team.
The signing of Bush could help soften losing unrestricted free agent Mike Goodson and could help with the Raiders 28th ranked rushing offense, which gained just 88 yards per game. The team also has Myers set to be a free agent and could decide to draft a prospect like Stanford's Zach Ertz, or they could look at the market, which includes Giants TE Martellus Bennett, Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano and 49ers TE Delanie Walker.
The defense is also suspect to change, as Matt Shaughnessy, Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant are all free agents and the team will need to retool their defensive line. Although he will also be asking for a decent amount of money, someone like Cliff Avril could be an option for the Raiders, as he has been a dominant player for the Lions over the past few years, as the 27-year old has recorded 30 sacks with 15 hits and 102 pressures from 2010 to 2012.
The addition of Avril could greatly help a 4-12 Raiders team solidify their defense, which ranked in the middle of the NFL at 20th and 18th in passing and rushing yards allowed to opponents. The team allowed nearly 120 yards per game on the ground and adding Avril could greatly help the first line of defense against the run.
The team also has to figure out what to do with their quarterbacks, as they have Palmer and Terrelle Pryor, but they also will need a new backup, as Matt Leinart is a free agent. The team could find a way to shed itself of some cap room by making a trade with the Jets, as Tim Tebow could provide a new facet on offense and a solid backup for the team.
The Raiders are in a position to take a risk after a down season and if they feel Geno Smith is not an option with the third pick, they could decide to take the best player on the board and use Tebow instead as a backup and change-of-pace option, since they may decide to trade Palmer and make Pryor the starter.