The Oakland Raiders love playing the bad guy. It's in their blood. It's in their logo. Heck, it's in the colors they wear.
They're antagonistic and domineering and they embrace the darker parts of themselves with a hefty amount of vim and no less than quite a bit of vigor.
Which is why, when it became apparent that mammoth Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was inching ever close to NFL free agency, an immediate connection was drawn between the Raiders and the bullying defensive lineman.
It seemed a natural fit and in all reality, still does.
According to recent reports though, the new-look Raiders may be taking a different NFL free agency tact.
ESPN's Adam Schefter, appearing on Mad Dog Sports Radio Thursday morning, revealed that he expects the Oakland brass - head coach Jack Del Rio and GM Reggie McKenzie - to prioritize Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb and Broncos tight end Julius Thomas over Suh.
While the thought may come as a surprise to many, the reasoning is mostly sound.
Suh is expected to break the bank in free agency - literally. He will almost assuredly set the record for largest contract - and most guaranteed money - ever handed to a defensive player in NFL history.
The Raiders, with the second-most cap room in the league, could afford such a deal. But having money doesn't necessarily mean you should spend it all in one place. Suh is a dominant player, but putting all your NFL victory eggs into one oversized basket is often a recipe for failure, as has been proven time and again in the not-too-distant past.
The Raiders could certainly use Suh, but he's not integral to their success going forward.
Weapons for young franchise quarterback Derek Carr, on the other hand, are.
Thomas is a touchdown machine, and Cobb has become one of the most electric and versatile wideouts in the league. With the Raiders depth chart at tight end nearly bereft of quality pass-catchers and their receiver group a steady, if entirely unspectacular bunch, it is imperative for the team to add pieces that will aid Carr on his, and the franchise's, currently upward trending trajectory.
