The Oakland Raiders have been one of the most active teams in the offseason this year and many of the moves Reggie McKenzie has made could pay off in 2013, while running back Darren McFadden is entering the final year of his contract and hit future could be tied to him staying healthy for the first time in his career.
McFadden hasn't been able to stay healthy for a full schedule in any of his years in the league since being drafted and general manager Reggie McKenzie and the team may let him walk next year if he can't prove he can stay on the field. McFadden is an explosive player but he has missed 13 games over the past two seasons and he is now in the final year of his six-year, $60 million contract that he signed with the Raiders in 2008 after being a first round draft pick. His cap his next season will be over $9 million and while McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen like what he can do on the field, they may not be willing to give him the money that he wants.
If McFadden can show that through the season he can stay healthy and on the field, there is chance that McKenzie will give him an extension to keep him from hitting the market. McFadden has been consistent through his career at missing games, sitting out at least three every season, but what he can do on the field is impressive as he has explosive speed and can catch the ball well out of the backfield and that could be huge for Matt Flynn this season.
McFadden has yet to play in more than 13 games in any season with the Raiders due to a number of injuries and over his first three season he missed 10 games and in 2011 he only played in seven. He played in 12 games in 2012 and has gone over 1,000 yards just once in his career, coming in 2010 when he put up his best numbers, rushing for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns, both highs for his career. McFadden has been excellent at catching passes out of the backfield, making 47 catches in 2010 and 42 last season. Over the past two years he has scored just six touchdowns while missing 13 games and last season he rushed for 707 yards, which still led the team.
McFadden could be in for some big improvements this season with a new scheme from coordinator Greg Olson and he is expected to do much better than the 3.3 yards per carry from last year. The ranked eighth in passing behind Carson Palmer, but the team ranked 28th in rushing with injuries and that makes McFadden staying healthy even more important as the team tries to improve from their 4-12 record.
The team made a number of moves in free agency after losing Brandon Myers, including signing Charles Woodson, Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter, Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett. The team went on the offensive side of the ball for the draft, taking Latavius Murray and Nick Kasa as well as Brice Butler. The team also added DJ Hayden with their first round pick and the defense is expected to be much improved this year.
