The Oakland Raiders are keeping head coach Dennis Allen for the 2014 season after another 4-12 finish and while the team did not show much improvement on the field, this offseason they can make a big impact off of it, as they have $60 million in cap space cleared out and likely will chase a number of free agents like Jimmy Graham, Ben Tate, Michael Vick, Hakeem Nicks, Jared Allen and Maurice Jones-Drew.
The Raiders have been purposefully breaking down their roster over the past two seasons with Reggie McKenzie at the helm as the franchise works on getting all their bad contracts and dead money gone and now the team is ready to spend. McKenzie has cleared out millions in cap space heading into this offseason and with major questions at a number of positions, players on the market will be getting targeted by Oakland, including Vick at quarterback and Nicks at wide receiver. The team has recently drafted a number of young players at skill positions, including Latavius Murray, Mychal Rivera and Nick Kasa as well as Brice Butler, the team still could go after players like Graham and Nicks.
The team likely will be going after Nicks at least initially, as they have not had a big name receiver in years and that is one reason why they have not been able to develop a quarterback. The team drafted Tyler Wilson and traded for Matt Flynn last season, but those did not work out and now the team has Matt McGloin and Terrelle Pryor and the fifth pick in the draft, meaning those two could be done as well. Nicks had a rough season in 2013 with zero touchdowns and not so great stats, but anyone who watched the Giants in 2011 knows that this man can be a playmaker and he also has the potential to be one of the best deep threats in the NFL and he is a legitimate number one receiver.
Jared Allen is an interesting option to look at, especially if the team lets Lamarr Houston go, which they said they don't want to do, but Allen is an interesting option, because he is premier pass rusher and the fact that he is 31 years old means that he could come a bit cheaper than expected. Brent Grimes is an interesting option at corner after the team underperformed there despite signing Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins, while the team also hopes to re-sign Houston and Jared Veldheer.
Dennis Allen is coming back as head coach for next season after meeting with owner Mark Davis and now he has the chance to try and get some free agents with the money the team has to spend and while he is older as well, adding Michael Vick on a small deal could be an option. Hear it out. Vick could come in and play for a year or two and if the Raiders select a quarterback with their first or second round pick, they can develop him a bit while Vick starts, as they haven't been able to draft and develop a legitimate quarterback for some time. Darren McFadden is leaving and that makes Ben Tate and interesting option, as he will get signed as a starter somewhere.
