The Oakland Raiders made a few head scratching moves on the first day of free agency letting go over several of their top players without so much as a fight. Running back Rashad Jennings is gone. Lamarr Houston headed to Chicago. Jared Veldheer signed to the Arizona Cardinals. Oakland retained underwhelming veteran Darren McFadden leaving many fans wondering what happened. However, Day 2 might bring excited to Oakland as two top free agents are headed their way.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, both Justin Tuck and Lamarr Woodley have visits scheduled with the Raiders this week. The team has some major holes to fill especially after losing premier pass rusher Houston and both Tuck and Woodley would help fill the void.
The Raiders have some money to spend and could entice one of the veterans to join with a favorable contract. Neither Tuck nor Woodley have received a ton of interest on the market so far which could work in Oakland's favor. If the team can convince them with a rebuilding phase and a strong contract offer, they could land one or both.
Team's targeting Tuck have been few and far between. The veteran defensive end believes he is one of the best available, but injuries and age are not working in his favor. Tuck could end up re-signing with the New York Giants if all else fails, but he would have to take a significant pay cut. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, before Oakland expressed interest, Tuck was actually set to remain with the Giants. If the Raiders deal falls through, he will likely stay put.
Interest around Woodley has been a bit higher since his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers. After visiting the Raiders, the Tennessee Titans are also making a push for the veteran. Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean, the Titans have reached out to the defensive end after an endorsement from defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
The Raiders will make a big bush for either player. They need to sign someone today in order to keep the faith of the fanbase. If both Tuck and Woodley do not work out, there are still a few options. Jared Allen could find himself taking a visit to Oakland. The veteran might find the free agent market a big tough given the fact that he is also on the wrong end of the NFL age scale. The Raiders want a pass rusher and all three are options.