The Oakland Raiders have looked much improved this season and as Reggie McKenzie guides the team out of a tough financial situation, there is a chance they could sign some top free agents next season and some targets include Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker, Jay Cutler, Brian Orakpo and Jimmy Graham.
Sure, some of those players are likely out of reach, but there is always a chance the team could sway them. The Oakland Raiders could end up being one of the most improved teams by the end of the NFL season after making a number of solid roster moves and one of the biggest factors in the turnaround of the team will be the performance of running back Darren McFadden and whether he can stay healthy for the full schedule.
McFadden is entering a make or break year anyway as he will become an unrestricted free agent in 2014 after signing a six-year, $60 million contract with the Raiders in 2008 after being drafted. In 2013 he will have a cap hit of over $9 million and while coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie like his skills, if he can't stay healthy for a full season, the Raiders will let him walk. The best scenario for McFadden could be a healthy season and he then could find himself getting a decent sized extension and avoiding the open market altogether.
McFadden has dealt with a number of injuries over the past few years and he hasn't played in more than 13 games in any season during his career. In 2012 he played in just 12 games and in the previous season he played in seven while dealing with injuries. Over his first three seasons he missed 10 games and he has only gone over 1,000 yards rushing once in his career.
The Raiders have been hoping for McFadden to put up numbers like he did in 2010 when he had 1,157 yards rushing and a career high seven touchdowns, but over the past two years he has missed 13 games while scoring just six touchdowns. McFadden is a threat out of the backfield after making 47 receptions in 2010 and 42 in 2012 and he will have the chance to excel this season in the new power blocking scheme that the Raiders are planning on using and after this next season the Raiders will have enough space if they want to keep him long term after finally shedding some big contracts in the offseason.
Last season McFadden was a disappointment for the team with just 707 yards and two touchdowns and with Marcel Reece in the backfield as well, a healthy season for McFadden could mean big results for the Raiders in 2013. Last year he had just 3.3 yards per carry and the offense is expected to improve with the new power scheme from offensive coordinator Greg Olson and after ranking 28th in rushing yards per game with under 90 last season Reece and McFadden must produce more. The passing game will play a big part in what the team will do with its running backs, as Matt Flynn will be without last season's leading receiver Brandon Myers, who left in free agency for the Giants.
The team will get its bye week following six games and the team will open on the road against the Colts before playing against the Jaguars at home and the division rival Broncos on the road. The Raiders will then host the Redskins and Chargers before visiting Kansas City in Week 6 prior to their bye week. The team selected cornerback DJ Hayden with their first round pick at number 12 and the Raiders added a number of players on offense with Nick Kasa and Latavius Murray coming in the sixth round and Brice Butler at wideout in the seventh round. The Raiders made a number of moves in the offseason by adding Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter, Kevin Burnett and Nick Roach as well as Charles Woodson and if McFadden can stay healthy the team has potential to make noise in the AFC West.
