Oakland Raiders next moves?

March 13, 2:26 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

Previous Next

8 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Oakland Raiders Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Could the Raiders make another move for Barnes?

The Oakland Raiders have been restructuring contracts like crazy. They have been able to free up an additional $12 million dollars against the 2009 salary cap, but they have yet to make any notable signings. Given that Al Davis has never been one to just sit on cap space and not make a move, it seems like the Raiders may be building towards a block-buster move. As it stands right now, the free agent market is rather thin at all the positions where the Raiders have glaring needs, which begs the question as to what exactly the Raiders have brewing.

The Raiders had a high profile flirtation with Khalif Barnes that ended without a deal being consummated. Likely, Barnes’s asking price was greater than Al Davis felt he was worth. An interesting side note to the Barnes ordeal is that his agent said that he was about to sign with another team, but that has yet to come to pass in the ensuing week. If the salary shuffle had been with the idea of acquiring Barnes, a deal would have been done.

Beyond Barnes there is not a likely candidate for a large payday anywhere, especially at the positions the Raiders need help. The Raiders may have their eyes on a trade, or they may spread that money around and bring in more midrange guys as the price drops 

Anquan Boldin wants out of Arizona, and despite Kurt Warner offering a million dollar paycut to help retain Boldin, there has been no motion. Davis loves big play receivers, and Boldin fits that bill. He is young and productive, and would be a perfect compliment to the young receivers on the Raider roster. If this deal were to be done, much like the DeAngelo Hall mistake, it would be contingent upon the Raiders coming to terms with Boldin on a new deal. Boldin would be a great target for JaMarcus Russell.

This move would not be unprecedented as the Raiders traded away a high pick to Minnesota for a wide receiver back in 2005, and Boldin would not likely command the Raiders top pick unless it involved a swap of firsts.

Julius Peppers of the Panthers is under the franchise tag and wants out of Carolina. If the Raiders could pull off a move for him, it would be an instant upgrade to their defense. However, he wants to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and the Raiders are a 4-3 team, which makes this move unlikely, although a pipe dream.

The wise move for the Raiders would be to use their cap money to bring in lower priced players who can contribute. Barnes is still on the market, and he would be a good fit in Oakland, if the lack of other teams clamoring for his services has humbled him. They could make a move for either Tank Johnson, as they need help at defensive tackle and safety, and neither one of them would be pricy. If signed to a low base incentive laden contract, Marvel Smith would be a low risk high reward signing. 

The Raiders will have a full 80 man roster once its time for training camp to open in Napa, so there is no panic over the lack of acquisitions. There is time for the Raiders to continue to fill their holes, and hopefully they continue to avoid the mistakes of the past.

SEE ALSO:

• Highest priority holes
• State of the Raiders defense
• Where the Raiders stand offensively
• Avoiding quick fixes
• Making all the right moves
• Javon Walker restructure continues smart offseason
• Winning trench warfare
• Drama free zone cause for optimism
• Raiders need not fear going capless
• The coming labor war