The Oakland Raiders have failed to sign any marquee names in free agency despite almost $70 million in salary cap space. Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb found news homes quickly. DeMarco Murray rebuffed the team's offers. Darrelle Revis was considered but never thought to be a realistic option. Overall, Raiders fans may have been hoping for more of a splash. That's not to say that Rodney Hudson, Dan Williams, Curtis Lofton and Nate Allen aren't valuable players. They are. But they don't move the needle.
Like it or not, the biggest names in free agency don't want to come to Oakland. But that doesn't mean the Raiders are completely out of the hunt just yet.
"Oakland can still participate in the big-ticket market if a player gets unexpectedly cut later in free agency, which is possible," ESPN's Raiders reporter Bill Williamson wrote. "The Raiders could have a surplus of cap room while others are struggling to stay under the cap. That could be an advantage. It also could help them in the trade market if a team decides to unload a player. If the Vikings end up trading running back Adrian Peterson, the Raiders (whose offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave worked with Peterson in Minnesota) could emerge as a possibility."
As of now, the Vikings have said that they are keeping their former MVP in town. But Peterson's stance on getting out of Minnesota has reportedly not changed. Paying a disgruntled player $13 million may prove too big of a leap for the Vikings. If so, the Raiders are a logical landing spot.
Maurice Jones-Drew retired this offseason, Darren McFadden left in free agency and Latavius Murray has just 82 career carries. Oakland has both the need and the money to make a play for Peterson. And it's not as if the Raiders are the black hole they were a few years ago. The team has an impressive young quarterback in Derek Carr, a legit stud in linebacker Khalil Mack. The left tackle position is covered and the defense has some interesting pieces in the secondary.
"Oakland will likely have a lot of cap room next year as well," Williamson wrote. "Once again, their ability to get a big-money player to make the Raiders an option will be brought into question. All the Raiders can do is continue to try to convince stars to come and hope the players they have start winning. That would make Oakland an attractive option for free agents in the near future."
