The Oakland Raiders took a big step forward in their first year under head coach Jack Del Rio, as they improved their record by four wins from the previous season, finishing in third place in the AFC West with a 7-9 record.
The Raiders are closing the gap between themselves and the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, and they have landed some of the top free agents on the open market. The team landed three significant players signing offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, cornerback Sean Smith, and linebacker Bruce Irvin this past week, and is clearly moving in the right direction.
Oakland surprised many on Friday, as they released linebacker Curtis Lofton after just one season with the team. Lofton started nine games for Oakland last season and didn't miss a game, as the former Raiders linebacker recorded 64 combined tackles and one sack. He is entering his ninth season in the league and saw his numbers hit an all-time low last season, but he will likely garner plenty of interest around the league.
Many teams will be in the market for a middle linebacker, and the former second round pick could appeal to multiple teams, as he hasn't missed a game in his NFL career. Lofton will likely see a significant pay cut wherever he lands next season, but he should be considered a productive player that can start for many teams in the league.
The Raiders 2016 linebacker core looks much improved with the addition of Irvin this offseason, and the former Seahawks linebacker joins a former teammate and Super Champion in Malcolm Smith with the Raiders in 2016. Oakland is set at their strongside and weakside linebacker positions with two former Seahawks, but they could still look to find a leader to put in the middle of their defense.
While the Raiders may look to address the position in free agency, one player to keep in an eye on in the lead-up to the draft is Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland. The Crimson Tide linebacker was a tackling machine at Alabama, recording 102 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks on the way to a National Championship his senior year.
It's unknown if the Alabama linebacker will fall to the Raiders with the 14th pick, but Oakland's scouts have shown interest in the talented linebacker, and he could make a strong fit in the middle of their defense. The Raiders will likely have to wait and see who falls to them in the draft, but it wouldn't be surprising if Ragland ended up with the Silver and Black next season.
