Highest priorities for the Oakland Raiders to address

March 12, 3:40 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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After looking at the offense and defense, its time to look at charting a course for the rest of the offseason.  The positions have been evaluated, now its time to prioritize the remaining needs on the roster. Not everything can be done in one offseason, so they need to focus on their highest remaining priorities.

Defensive Tackle:

The reason the Raiders run defense has been a punchline to a bad joke for the last half decade is the lack of beef along the defensive line. Without a doubt, the Raiders need to get a wide body defensive tackle next to a rotation of Tommy Kelly and Gerrard Warren to clog up the running lanes, as well as to keep offensive linemen away from the linebackers, so they can make the play. Until the Raiders address this issue, they are going to be near the bottom of the league in rush defense.

Potential targets: BJ Raji or Ron Brace in the draft would be a good fit. The Raiders could make a move for Tank Johnson from the Cowboys. They could also make a move for Washington's Anthony Montgomery who is a restricted free agent. Montgomery was given a low tender, so the Raiders would only have to surrender a late round draft choice. They could also make a move for John Thornton who was a solid run stuffer for the Bengals.

Center:

With Jake Grove leaving for a nice payday with the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders are left with John Wade as the likely starter at center. Grove was disappointing in 08, but he had beat out wade. With the Raiders expecting to be able to run the ball well, they need an upgrade at this position.

Potential targets: Alex Mack from Cal would be a dream acquisition for the Raiders in the second round. The free agent market is perilously thin at this position. LeCharles Bently is probably the best remaining on the market, but he has more injury questions than answers.

Offensive Tackle:

Cornell Green would have received much more criticism from the Raider Nation had he not been lined up opposite Kwame Harris. Green was the second most penalized tackle in the NFL, and was a danger to JaMarcus Russell's health as a pass blocker. On the left side, Mario Henderson showed that he could be solid, but the team may not be completely sold on him.

Potential targets: There has been speculation on many mocks that the Raiders could go for one of the top tackles in the draft. They flirted with Khailf Barnes as a free agent, but no deal got done as of yet, however, Barnes is still on the market. They also have a rumored interest in Marvel Smith. Smith's history of back problems is a concern, but a one or two year incentive laden contract could turn into a steal. Mark Tauscher from Green Bay could be worth a look.

Defensive End:

The Raiders have pass rushers with Derrick Burgess and Trevor Scott, but they don't have a base end who stacks up well against the run. Jay Richardson is a rotational player at best, and they need someone here who can step up. The end situation is almost as bad against the run as the defensive tackles.

Potential targets: The Raiders could easily snatch up Brian Orapko if he is on the board at seven. The free agent market for defensive ends is quite unimpressive. The Raiders should look at Josh Thomas late of the Colts who plays the run well. They could also make a move for former Patriot Mike Wright.

Safety:

The Raiders are paper thin at safety with Gibril Wilson being released and Rashad Baker signing with Philly. The Raiders have Michael Huff, Hiram Eugene, and Tyvon Branch as the only safeties on the roster. Branch showed promise in 08 before he went on the injured reserve with a wrist injury. Eugene is a solid back up and special teams player, whilst Huff has never lived up to his expectations coming out of college.

Potential targets: The Raiders should not use a high round draft pick at this position. They could make a move for Roy Williams from Dallas, but he is a liability in coverage and good for a few personal foul calls a year, although he could bring veteran leadership to a young defense. They could take a look at Marquand Manuel from the Broncos or Will Demps from the Texans. Neither of them are great, but would add veteran depth with the young players currently on the roster.

Wide Receiver:

If it wasn't for the late season emergence of Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chaz Schelins, this position would be higher on the list. They both made strong contributions to the Raiders two game winning streak to end the 08 campaign, and look to improve with another year with Russell. Beyond those two, the Raiders have Javon Walker returning, but he also missed much of the 08 campaign with injuries so it remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank. The Raiders have last year's fourth round pick Arman Shields who has yet to see any time after spending last year on the IR.

Potential targets: They could make a move for Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin with their top pick. The free agent market is not flush with talent at this position, although the Raiders could make a run at Shaun McDonald who had over 900 yards on 07. They may also resign Drew Carter who missed the entire 08 campaign with an injury.

SEE ALSO:

Where the Raiders stand offensively

State of the Raiders defense

Raiders avoiding quick fixes

Making all the right moves

Winning the war in the trenches

Highest priority positions to address