Let's be honest - the Oakland Raiders haven't given their legions of faithful fans, those devout Raider Nation knuckleheads, much to be excited about over the past decade or so. Not since 2002 when Bill Callahan was leading Rich Gannon and the rest of the Raiders team, originally constructed by Jon Gruden, against their old boss has Raider Nation had real reason to stand and shout and implore and otherwise urge their team on to victory.
But stand, shout, implore and urge Raiders fans have, through the good and the bad, the up and the down, since. And while there has been far too much down and very little up in recent seasons, it looks as though the Raiders may finally be turning the corner, may finally be ready to again contend for the AFC West crown and, if things go to GM Reggie McKenzie's plan, even an NFL playoff spot.
On the first day of the new league year, McKenzie put some of that NFL-leading cap space to extremely good use, signing a small handful of ascending players that may not bring much in the way of name recognition, but instead represent talent that should help the franchise compete in the here and now, as well as well into the future.
Offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, linebacker Bruce Irvin and the cherry on top, cornerback Sean Smith, immediately upgrade three spots in Jack Del Rio's lineup and, more importantly, improve the overall depth of the Oakland roster.
Smith, 28, fills a gaping hole at cornerback that former first-round pick DJ Hayden has simply been unable to adequately occupy. Hayden has struggled with both injuries and inconsistent play - the two usually go hand-in-hand - and with Charles Woodson's retirement, the backend in Oakland suddenly looked very thin this offseason. While Smith has dealt with off-the-field issues, if he can keep his nose clean he should provide an effective and physically imposing presence - Smith goes about 6-foot-3, 214-pounds - in the Raider secondary, better allowing defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. to match up with some of the better (and bigger) receivers in the AFC West like Demaryius Thomas, Keenan Allen and Jeremy Maclin.
Snatching Smith away from the Chiefs also has the added benefit of hurting a division rival at the same time as it benefits the Raiders.
The 28-year-old Irvin will be an interesting name to watch throughout the preseason. He's got such immense athleticism and abilities, beyond even a keen knack for getting to the quarterback, that he was utilized in an array of positions by the Seahawks. But being deployed in that manner also kept Irvin from honing any one particular skillset. And while Irvin was effective in that versatile role, allowing him to focus on one position may be best for his long- and short-term impact.
Then again, a Von Miller-type role, the same role currently occupied by fellow Raider Khalil Mack, wherein Irvin can line up at strongside linebacker in base and get after the quarterback on passing downs, may be the best situation for team and player. Either way, it's probably safe to say Norton will have fun figuring out the best way to use his new toy in conjunction with Mack.
Osemele, 26, is extremely versatile and can plug in immediately at guard or either of the tackle spots, all positions he spent time at during his tenure in Baltimore. His deal is massive - five years, $60 million - but it's surely worth it to Del Rio and McKenzie to upgrade the protection in front of franchise quarterback Derek Carr with perhaps the best player, and far and away the best offensive lineman, that was available in free agency this year. It also provides the Raiders with extra leverage in negotiations with Donald Penn. Penn has said that his preference is to remain in Oakland, but free agent money very well could lure him elsewhere.
Either way, improving the overall offensive line depth allows the Raiders to move guys like J'Marcus Webb - should he return - and Menelik Watson to the bench permanently, where they can operate as top back-ups and not mediocre starters. The development of a guy like Jon Feliciano, last year's fourth-round pick, would only be icing on the cake for Carr and the Raiders.
And therein lies the truth of the Raiders' success, both last season and, presumably, in the coming years - McKenzie's recent draft hits have finally given Oakland a base of talent around which to build.
Mack is already a stud - his 15 sacks last season came from both the linebacker and defensive end spots - sure to terrorize opposing quarterbacks and running backs for years to come. Pairing him with Irvin gives the Raiders two dynamic edge presences, meaning that Mack's already impressive production should only increase with Irvin in the fold.
And on offense, Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper's rapid development combined with Michael Crabtree's rebirth has allowed McKenzie to add important, but complementary pieces like Osemele, confident in the fact that it's the homegrown Raiders that will be doing most of the heavy lifting on Sunday's.
McKenzie and Del Rio's plan for the silver and black is clear - build a consistent winner through the draft and shore up problem areas with key free agent signings. It's a formula that teams like Seattle and Baltimore and New England have used to great effect in recent years, but it's not easily replicated, easily said though it may be.
Why? Because the draft is a crapshoot and making poor selections in April means that come the following spring, you're handing out fat free agent contracts to players who can't righty fulfill the expectations that come along with such a deal.
In Osemele, Irvin and Smith, the Raiders have found the right free agency formula - draft well and provide those homegrown franchise players with veteran support. It's a far cry from McKenzie's first free agent class in 2012, when he picked through the leavings and grabbed guys like Ron Bartell, Mike Brisel, Pat Lee, Shawntae Spencer and Phillip Wheeler, using what little money he had at his disposal.
But that's what a healthy cap situation and smart drafting will do for you.
There remains work to be done in Oakland and it's unlikely the team will be able to flip the script overnight, but last season was full of promise and these three latest additions, along with whomever McKenzie is able to land in the 2016 NFL Draft, may well finally push the Raiders back into contention for the AFC West crown and maybe, just maybe, even an NFL playoff spot.
