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The Oakland Raiders must scour the free agent market wisely if they want to bounce back from their dismal 2018 NFL season.
The Raiders had high hopes of reclaiming their glory years with the return of Jon Gruden as head coach. Alas, Oakland stumbled to a 4-12 record in 2018 (only the Arizona Cardinals, who finished 3-13, fared worse). They also missed the postseason for the 15th time in the last 16 years.
Clearly, Raiders fans have been miserable for so long. They, along with Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Detroit Lions fans have been wearing that brown paper bag on their heads for a long time. It's time for a change.
Where have we heard that before?
It's hard to fathom it was only three seasons ago when Oakland won 12 of 16 regular season games. Back then, the Raiders had Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, and Khalil Mack. They're in their last season in Oakland.
On that note, we can only hope the Raiders give the fans in Northern California one more winning season before they move to Las Vegas in 2020.
The trades of Cooper and Mack, in particular, took a massive toll on both sides of the ball.
Prior to the acquisition of the controversial Antonio Brown, the Raiders had an underachieving receiving corps. Carr's favorite targets – tight end Jared Cook and wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Seth Roberts – combined for just 11 touchdowns in 2018.
To put things in proper perspective, Brown hauled in 15 touchdowns by his lonesome in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform last season. He should help fill the massive void which Cook (who signed with the New Orleans Saints) left.
The Raiders need a reliable No. 2 receiver to get the offense going in 2019. If Ryan Grant or Luke Willson fail to live up to expectations, a free agent signing should help.
On the other hand, a Mack-less Raiders team allowed 3,859 yards in the air to finish 19th in the NFL in 2018. Worse, Oakland finished dead last in the league in points per game allowed (29.2).
The onus is on second-year defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. The most reliable pass rusher he had in 2018 was defensive end Arden Key. According to Pro Football Focus, Key “was the only defensive player with more than 15 total pressures” last season.
The signing of weakside linebacker Vontaze Burfict should help. However, his production has declined in the past three seasons. He's also one of the most controversial (he's amassed $4.2 million in fines during his seven-year tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals). No wonder the Raiders committed to him for just one year.
On that note, the lack of a reliable pass rusher and Burfict's shaky past should compel Gruden and Co. to resort to free agency. As of April 8, Oakland has $28.9 million in cap space remaining.
Let's check out three players the Oakland Raiders can still target in free agency.
3. Michael Crabtree
It would be great to see wide receiver Michael Crabtree in Raiders Silver and Black again.
Crabtree spent his most productive years in the Black Hole – he scored 25 of his 54 career touchdowns during his three-year tenure in Oakland from 2015 to 2017. That wasn't too long ago.
At 31, Crabtree has lost a step or two. However, he can still produce. Not only that, but he's also durable – he's missed just two games in the past five years. It's not hard to imagine Crabtree finishing his NFL career in a Raiders uniform.
Crabtree is a more serviceable No. 2 receiver than the recently-signed Ryan Grant. The former should give quarterback Derek Carr a good second option behind Antonio Brown at the wide receiver spot.
2. Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh in an Oakland Raiders jersey? Why not?
The 32-year-old Suh ranks 12th on NFL.com's Top 101 Free Agents list. He made a good account of himself during the Los Angeles Rams' run to Super Bowl LIII. He recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in three postseason games in 2018.
If Suh can carry that momentum into the 2019 NFL season with the Raiders, he could help them improve not only their pass rush, but their overall matador defense as well. He is far from finished.
Suh joining forces with linebacker Vontaze Burfict on defense would stir controversy, for sure. It would be interesting to see how Gruden manages those two and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Suh may command a hefty price on the free agent market. It wouldn't surprise us one bit if owner Mark Davis digs deep into his pocket to lure Suh into the Black Hole.
1. Zach Brown/Ziggy Ansah
Signing Zach Brown or Ziggy Ansah would help the Oakland Raiders' cause in 2019.
The aforementioned Top 101 Free Agents list on NFL.com describes Brown as “one of the most physical, athletic, and productive inside linebackers of the past two seasons.” That statement should grab the attention of Gruden and Co.
Brown's tackles have declined the past three years (from 149 in 2016 to 96 in 2018). However, he still recorded 33 tackles for loss during that same span. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther could use a weapon such as Brown in his rotation.
As for Ansah, “If he stays healthy, he's good for double-digit sacks,” per NFL.com. Shoulder issues limited Ansah to just seven appearances with the Detroit Lions during the 2018 NFL season.
If he manages to stay healthy, he has the potential to replicate his feats in 2015 and 2017, when he recorded 14.5 and 12.0 sacks, respectively. A rejuvenated Ziggy Ansah is just what this Raiders team needs in 2019.
