Destroying Raiders Free Agency Myths
While the offseason is a slower time after the playoffs, it quickly heats up with chatter. As a result, writers and fans alike wildly speculate as to which free agents will show up on Oakland’s radar. Downtime coupled with large cap space makes for an interesting conversation. The following are a few myths about the Raiders’ offseason agenda.
Top 10 FA: Some members of RaiderNation want an elite free agent. That is not a weird request. In this case, it’s a wrong one. By now, we all know what Reggie McKenzie will and won’t break the bank for. McKenzie attacks areas of true need, not of mere want. In effect, he usually makes the right call. The Raiders are not signing huge names this year, unless they take a reasonable deal. With Mack and Carr’s deals looming, valuable cap space will not go to waste. Players like Calais Campbell and Eric Berry command more money than the Raiders will spend.
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DeSean Jackson: First, let’s clear up one thing. DeSean Jackson attended the University of California-Berkeley. He is from Los Angeles, not the Bay Area, Countless fans attempt to link where he’s from to signing in Oakland. With that said, it would take a severely discounted deal for Jackson to sign with the Raiders. According to Spotrac, Jackson’s current market value is 7.5 million dollars. Can anyone truly imagine him taking a one million dollar deal? Plus, Jackson’s various clashes with coaches and on-field issues aren’t how Jack Del Rio runs the ship. For example, can you imagine Del Rio’s reaction to this?
Latavius Murray: Before the news broke of the Raiders potentially moving on from Murray, fans wanted him to re-sign for a discount. This is a mind-blowing thought. Why should any football player, especially a running back take less money? Murray earned the right to cash in because of enduring hundreds of tackles. The running back position isn’t as appreciated as in past years. Murray’s market value is 6.7 million dollars per year. Considering he earned less than 600 thousand a year during his Raiders career, a raise must happen. While we all want our homegrown players to stay, this is still their job.
In the long run, the Raiders will continue to tinker and add pieces to the roster. Yet, big name free agents aren’t always the way to go. Reggie McKenzie operates with security. Signing an extension allowed him to stay the course and plot out the future. After Carr and Mack get paid, Amari Cooper and Gabe Jackson will want significant raises. RaiderNation should let the big-ticket free agents walk. We’d rather win in the postseason, rather than headlines in March.
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