The Oakland Raiders will have a good amount of the salary cap space to work with in free agency this season, but that does not mean the team will not have to make a few cuts in order to get the players they want. Head coach Jack Del Rio plans on investing in playmakers this offseason, but will have to release a few people in the process. First on the list could be quarterback Matt Schaub.
The Raiders acquired Schaub last year in hopes that he would fall back into being a successful starter after a down year with the Houston Texans. That experiment failed big time as the Raiders ended up starting rookie Derek Carr for the entire season. Now, Schaub is a candidate to get released before free agency officially begins.
General manager Reggie McKenzie stressed that the Raiders were open to retaining Schaub as a backup quarterback, but the numbers certainly tell a different story. If Oakland keeps Schaub, they owe him $5.5 million for 2015. He would be one of the most expensive backup quarterbacks in the league. If cut, Matt McGloin would backup Carr at a cheaper cost. McKenzie is not ready to make a call either way.
"He doesn't have anything that is forcing our hand right now," said McKenzie, via the SFGate.com. "Tmatt schere could be other teams that want him and maybe would trade me a player for him."
The Raiders are already entering 2015 $50 million under the salary cap. That number could get even bigger if they release Schaub. There is also the chance players like Tyvon Branch and LaMarr Woodley go as well. Branch is a $9.7 million cap hit and his injuries certainly do not warrant that money. Woodley also spent most of 2014 injured and is owed $3.85 million. Maurice Jones-Drew gets added to the list with his $2.4 million hit. It has already been reported Darren McFadden will not be returning so Jones-Drew's future is on the line as well.
The Raiders are being linked to some big names in free agency and the additional cap space from cutting players like Schaub and Branch will certainly help the efforts. DeMarco Murray or CJ Spiller could be targets at running back while Dez Bryant, Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin would be solid wide receiver additions for Carr to work with. McKenzie might believe that the Raiders can keep Schaub around, but his salary is simply too high if he is going to sit on the bench.