The Oakland Raiders are coming into the 2015 offseason with a high amount of salary cap space and they may target players like Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, Julius Thomas, Greg Hardy, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Cameron and Byron Maxwell on the market, while Adrian Peterson also could be an option if he is released by the Minnesota Vikings.
The Raiders are coming off of another losing season and they went 3-13 last year while finishing in the bottom of the AFC West. The team fired Dennis Allen mid-season and opted to hire Jack Del Rio over keeping Tony Sparano after he was named interim head coach. The team found a young quarterback to build around in Derek Carr and they have done well over the past few drafts, adding young talent in Khalil Mack, Latavius Murray, Mychal Rivera and DJ Hayden.
Reggie McKenzie broke down the salary cap over past two years and while the team had the most space in the league last season, they did not over spend. The team added players like Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley, Maurice Jones-Drew and James Jones, but they did not give any major long term deals and now they have the chance to spend more. The 2015 class is deeper and more talented than last year's class and players like Suh, Thomas, Cobb and Hardy could be fits for Oakland.
Suh is looking to be paid big money, as reports have him wanting a $100 million contract at $50 million guaranteed and that leaves only a handful of teams that can give him that contract. Suh could change his mind and go for a bit less, as CBS Sports reports he is hoping to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, but that is unlikely with their cap situation. Suh is from the Pacific northwest and wants to win a Super Bowl. The Lions have expressed interest in keeping Suh, but he is going to cost quite a bit and Nick Fairley is also set to hit the market.
Suh is coming off of another strong season with 8.5 sacks and he is an All-Pro talent at defensive tackle. According to Rotoworld, former Buccaneers Mark Dominik thinks Suh could command a seven-year deal for up to $120 million, with $70 million guaranteed. The Raiders need playmakers on offense for Derek Carr and names like Cobb, Jeremy Maclin or Julius Thomas could be targets. Cobb is hoping to stay with the Packers, but the Raiders could compete with Green Bay with the sap space they have. Last season Cobb had 91 catches for 1287 yards and 12 touchdowns and he could be in line to get a near $50 million contract like Victor Cruz got.
NFL.com reports that the Panthers are not interestd in signing back Greg Hardy after his legal issues and he could be a potential target for the Raiders. Hardy had 15 sacks in 2013 and was not active for all but one game last year. Adrian Peterson is a potential name to watch, as he can come back in April and it's not certain that he will be with the Vikings in 2015. Peterson is making $12 million in salary and is a $15 million cap hit, the most of any running back in football. That could force the team to make a move and if he is released, Peterson will be a target for the Raiders and Cowboys.
