PFR Originals News & Rumors

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Los Angeles Rams

January 27th, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. This year’s series continues with the Rams, whose second act in Los Angeles began horrifically this season. The Rams sputtered to a 4-12 showing, which led to the in-season firing of the embattled Jeff Fisher and the postseason hiring of the youngest head coach in the modern era, 31-year-old Sean McVay.

Previously a successful offensive coordinator with the Redskins, McVay is inheriting a 22-year-old quarterback, Jared Goff, who underwhelmed as a rookie after the Rams traded up to select him first overall in the draft. The Rams don’t have either a first- or third-round pick this year because of that trade, which is a painful reality for a franchise that would have otherwise chosen fifth overall. Goff could begin to realize his vast potential under McVay, of course, and that would make the deal much easier to accept.

As the Rams wait to see how the two wunderkinds will fare in Year 1 of their partnership, their Les Snead-led front office will work to improve a roster that scored the fewest points and allowed the third-highest total in the NFL in 2016.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Kenny Britt, WR
Blake Countess, S (ERFA)
Benny Cunningham, RB
Dominique Easley, DT (RFA)
Isaiah Johnson, S (ERFA)
Trumaine Johnson, CB
Case Keenum, QB
Matt Longacre, DT (ERFA)
T.J. McDonald, S
Brian Quick, WR
Chase Reynolds, RB
Cam Thomas, DE
Louis Trinca-Pasat, DT (ERFA)
Trey Watts, RB (RFA)
Ethan Westbrooks, DT (RFA)
Greg Zuerlein, K (UFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits For 2017:

Tavon Austin, WR: $14,977,116
Mark Barron, LB: $11,000,000
Michael Brockers, DT: $11,000,000
Robert Quinn, DE: $10,750,334
Alec Ogletree, LB: $8,369,000
Greg Robinson, OT: $6,772,213
Jared Goff, QB: $6,349,471
Rodger Saffold, G: $6,222,233
William Hayes, DE: $5,500,000
Lance Kendricks, TE: $4,250,000

Current Projected Cap Room (via Over the Cap): $40,203,030

Other:

No first- or third-round pick (traded to Tennessee)
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year options for DT Aaron Donald and OT Greg Robinson

Three Needs:

1.) Repair the offensive line: If you’re building around youth at quarterback and running back, two places the Rams have invested heavily over the past couple years, common sense says you should possess a strong group of blockers. That wasn’t the case in 2016 for the Rams, whose offensive line graded as Football Outsiders’ fourth-worst group and Pro Football Focus’ sixth-worst unit. Only lowly Cleveland allowed more sacks than Los Angeles (49), whose rushers posted the league’s 10th-lowest yards-per-carry mark (3.9). Dual-threat wide receiver Tavon Austin drove up the latter figure, averaging 5.7 yards on 28 rushes. The Rams’ actual backs, including 2015 rookie sensation Todd Gurley, were far less impressive. Gurley shockingly stumbled to a 3.2 YPC – down 50 percent from his 4.8 the prior season – on 278 attempts and failed to eclipse the 85-yard mark in any of his 16 games. He certainly isn’t blameless for his dreadful second season, but it’s clear he and Goff need more support up front.

While the Rams are fine at left guard (Rodger Saffold) and right tackle (Rob Havenstein), they’d be wise to seek upgrades along the remainder of the line. That includes left tackle, where Greg Robinson has busted since going second overall in the 2014 draft. It’s doubtful the Rams will move on this offseason from Robinson, as he’s still young (24) and will be on their books at his full cap hit ($6.77MM-plus) even if they release him. They’ll surely decline his fifth-year option for 2018, however, and ought to look for a starting-caliber replacement for at least next season. Unfortunately, neither free agency nor the draft will brim with blindside options this offseason.

The open market’s top solution could be the Bengals’ Andrew Whitworth, who’s stellar but also aging (35). Otherwise, tackles scheduled to reach free agency include less capable protectors like Riley Reiff (Lions), Matt Kalil (Vikings) and Luke Joeckel (Jaguars). As is the case with Robinson, both Kalil and Joeckel have been letdowns since their respective teams used top five picks on them in recent years, though it might be worth pointing out that Kalil is a California native who formerly thrived in the Rams’ temporary stadium, the LA Coliseum, as a member of the USC Trojans. Past success aside, he’s certainly not a premier blocker these days.

In the event the Rams wait until the draft, where they’re scheduled to pick 37th, they could end up in contention for any of Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, Utah’s Garrett Bolles or Alabama’s Cam Robinson. All three tackles currently reside in the top 50 prospect rankings of draft gurus Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) and Matt Miller (Bleacher Report).

Moving to the interior, where the Rams should add a second high-end guard to complement Saffold and make life easier for Gurley, T.J. Lang (Packers), Kevin Zeitler (Bengals) and Ronald Leary (Cowboys) stand out as the foremost soon-to-be free agents. While all figure to rake in sizable contracts in the coming months, any would significantly improve the Rams’ line.

It would behoove the Rams to land one of those three, as the early second round doesn’t seem as if it’ll overflow with possibilities. Jeremiah and Miller only have one guard apiece in their top 50 – Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp is the former’s 16th-ranked player, while the latter’s list includes Indiana’s Dan Feeney at No. 37 (which matches LA’s pick).

Lastly, it’s possible the Rams will search for a superior center to Tim Barnes, who, to his credit, is coming off back-to-back 16-start seasons. For Gurley’s sake, it would make sense to target a better run blocker like A.Q. Shipley (Cardinals) or J.C. Tretter (Packers) on the open market. Jason Kelce could also become available if the Eagles release him, which looks like a legitimate possibility.

2.) Acquire more weapons for Goff: Wideouts Kenny Britt and Brian Quick finished first and second among Rams in receiving yards in 2016, and now they’re headed toward free agency. It’ll be more difficult to retain the 28-year-old Britt, who registered a career campaign in leading the team in receptions (68), targets (111), yards (1,002), yards per catch (14.2) and aerial touchdowns (five). Quick, 27, was decidedly less productive, though he did eclipse the 40-catch plateau and average nearly 14 yards per reception. Like the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Britt, Quick (6-3, 218) also offers size. That isn’t true of any other Rams receiver – their No. 1 signed pass catcher, Austin, is just 5-8, 176 pounds.

A big target, which could come in the form of re-signing Britt and/or Quick, would be nice, but the Rams can’t necessarily discriminate based on size. They (and Goff) are in dire need of weaponry to complement Austin and tight end Lance Kendricks, and there will be several names to watch in free agency.

It doesn’t look as though Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor will get to the market, but a large, proven, in-his-prime WR like the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery would be perfect for Goff. That might be a pipe dream for LA, though – the 26-year-old would first have to leave Chicago, which would mean no franchise tag, and then the Rams would have to win a bidding war for his services.

More realistic than coming out on top in the Jeffery sweepstakes, perhaps, would be reeling in any of DeSean Jackson and/or Pierre Garcon of the Redskins, Kenny Stills (Dolphins), Ted Ginn (Panthers), Robert Woods (Bills), Kamar Aiken (Ravens), Jeremy Kerley (49ers), Terrance Williams (Cowboys), Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), Kendall Wright (Titans) or Markus Wheaton (Steelers). McVay has clear connections to both Jackson and Garcon, having coached the pair to terrific results in Washington over the past three years. Woods, meanwhile, is a local product who starred at USC and has emerged as a solid four-year NFLer who’s still young (25 in April).

The Rams seem like shoo-ins to chase receivers in free agency, but they could also look at the position early in the draft. Chad Hansen jumps to the fore as both a Cal standout and someone who was once college teammates with Goff. The two played together in 2015, though Hansen didn’t break out until last season. Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp, who Jeremiah opines “is prepared to make an immediate impact” in the pros, may also be on the board when the Rams’ first selection rolls around during the spring. So could USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, a 6-2, 220-pounder who had an excellent three-year run with the Trojans.

3.) Make a decision on Trumaine Johnson’s future: The Rams’ new defensive coordinator, mastermind Wade Phillips, emigrated from Denver, which possesses elite cornerbacks in Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib. He could end up in a situation without a corner who’s anywhere close to that level if the Rams let Johnson walk in free agency. Los Angeles already lost one superb corner, Janoris Jenkins, to the open market a year ago. At the same time, the team managed to keep Johnson for 2016 via the $13.9MM franchise tag. The two sides were unable to work out a long-term pact before the July deadline, though, so Johnson’s future is once again uncertain as March looms.

The Rams could tag Johnson this year, but doing so would cost them $16.68MM – a bloated chunk of cap space for a deeply flawed team with other problems to address. A multiyear contract wouldn’t exactly be cheap, either, evidenced by the five-year, $62MM deal with $29MM in guarantees Jenkins signed with the Giants last winter.

If the Rams are unable to pay Johnson, they’d be down to the capable Lamarcus Joyner and uninspiring defenders behind him at the corner position. Not only has Johnson been a ball hawk (16 interceptions during his half-decade as a Ram), but the 6-2, 208-pounder also brings far more size than any of LA’s other corners. Given Johnson’s track record, it stands to reason he’s champing at the bit to cash in, so bringing him back could be unrealistic for the Rams.

Should Johnson end up out of LA’s price range, free agency is set to offer other No. 1 types in A.J. Bouye (Texans), Stephon Gilmore (Bills) and Logan Ryan (Patriots), but they’re also in line for massive paydays. Thus, presumably less expensive veterans such as Morris Claiborne (Cowboys), Dre Kirkpatrick (Bengals), Prince Amukamara (Jaguars) and Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings) might be of interest to the Rams if they become free agents. So, too, could any of USC’s Adoree Jackson, Ohio State’s Gareon Conley, Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey or Washington’s Kevin King, among several others in a corner-rich draft class.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Green Bay Packers

January 25th, 2017 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Green Bay Packers, who rallied from a poor start to take the NFC North crown before being defeated in the NFC championship game.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Geronimo Allison, WR (ERFA)
Don Barclay, G
Jared Cook, TE
John Crockett, RB (ERFA)
Jayrone Elliott, LB (RFA)
Brett Goode, LS
Micah Hyde, DB
Don Jackson, RB (ERFA)
Datone Jones, DE/LB
Joe Kerridge, FB (ERFA)
Eddie Lacy, RB
T.J. Lang, G
Christine Michael, RB
Julius Peppers, LB
Nick Perry, LB
Christian Ringo, DT (ERFA)
Jacob Schum, P (ERFA)
Joe Thomas, LB (ERFA)
J.C. Tretter, C
Jordan Tripp, LB (RFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Aaron Rodgers, QB: $20,300,000
Clay Matthews, LB: $15,200,000
Randall Cobb, WR: $12,750,000
Sam Shields, CB: $12,125,000
Jordy Nelson, WR: $11,550,000
Mike Daniels, DL: $10,400,000
Bryan Bulaga, T: $7,850,000
Morgan Burnett, S: $7,000,000
David Bakhtiari, T: $6,171,000
James Starks, RB: $3,750,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $35,719,981
29th pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Three Needs:

1) Clean up the secondary: Let’s begin with one obvious fact: Anyone who watched Sunday’s NFC championship game witnessed the Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan continuously torch Green Bay’s defensive backfield — which gave up the NFL’s most yards per attempt during the regular season — on their way to nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns. Here’s another obvious fact: Packers general manager Ted Thompson, for the most part, doesn’t venture into the free agency waters, preferring to build his club internally.

Those two opposing statements leave Green Bay with two possible offseason approaches to addressing its secondary. One option sees the club sticking to its usual formula, pinning its hopes on improvement from third-year cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, and filling in the gaps with developmental draft picks. Alternatively, the Packers could — as quarterback Aaron Rodgers termed it earlier this week — “reload” by attacking the free agent market with vigor for the first time since the Julius Peppers signing in 2014.

An offseason search for a free agent corner isn’t without precedent in Green Bay, as Thompson & Co. were suitors for Darrelle Revis in 2015. Cap room shouldn’t be an issue for the Packers, as the club already boasts more than $35MM in space and could clear more by releasing (or demanding a paycut from) Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb, Sam Shields, and James Starks. The open market should be flush with cornerback options, although a number of elite defenders — such as the Texans’ A.J. Bouye and the Rams’ Trumaine Johnson — could be facing the franchise tag.

Still, while Green Bay might not be open to hunting for a true No. 1 corner, the team should at least target a second-tier option that could lock down one side of the field, alleviating pressure on the rest of the Packers’ young defensive backfield. Logan Ryan (Patriots) jumps off the page as a near-perfect fit for Green Bay, as the 25-year-old ranked as the No. 14 CB in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus, and would serve as an immediate upgrade to the team’s current depth chart. Ryan should require a multiyear deal, so if the Packers are only interested in short-term commitments, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, or Prince Amukamara could be preferable.

If Green Bay wants to get a bit more creative, it could also explore a trade for Browns defensive back Joe Haden, whom multiple teams scouted in advance of last year’s trade deadline. Haden is still only 27 years old and is signed through the 2019 campaign, and although injuries have affected his play over the past few seasons, he’d be a worthwhile project for the Packers. Fellow Cleveland corner Tramon Williams (a former Packer) was also the subject of trade rumors last fall, and could be a target for Green Bay following his likely release this spring.

The draft offers the final avenue for the Packers to acquire a new cornerback, and the club should have several options when pick No. 29 comes around. While Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore will be long gone, his teammate Gareon Conley could still be available, as could Florida’s Teez Tabor, Washington’s Sidney Jones, or Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey. If Green Bay goes in another direction in Round 1, the team could still look at corner on Day 2, and Chad Reuter of NFL.com projects the Packers to select Fabian Moreau (UCLA) at pick No. 61 in his first mock draft of the year.

2) Reset the running game: Injuries to Eddie Lacy and James Starks forced the Packers to get imaginative at running back last year, and the club ultimately turned to converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery to lead the backfield over the final third of the season, with waiver claim Christine Michael chipping in, as well. Montgomery was successful as a back, but he struggled in pass protection and, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes, only topped 12 carries once, leaving open the question of whether Montgomery can serve as a foundational running back.

Indeed, Green Bay’s rushing attack is, in some respects, just as mangled as it was in-season. Lacy is scheduled to become a free agent this spring, and while he played well in limited action before suffering a season-ending injury, it’s unclear whether the Packers would be interested in a reunion — especially given Lacy’s weight struggles. A short-term pact could make some sense, but it’s entirely possible that Lacy could find a better offer on the open market. Starks, meanwhile, looks like a prime candidate for release thanks to his 2017 cap charge of $3.75MM and his 2016 yards per carry average of 2.3.

Ideally, the Packers would re-sign either Lacy or Michael to a low-cost deal, give Montgomery an offseason to further adjust to running back, and look for another back in the draft. Running back has been a popular target for Green Bay in recent mock drafts, as both Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com (Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara) sent RBs to the Packers in their latest projections. Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook will be off the board by the time Green Bay’s turn comes up, but the club could target D’Onta Foreman (Texas), Curtis Samuel (Ohio State), or Matthew Dayes (NC State) later in the draft.

Outside of Lacy, Le’Veon Bell, and Latavius Murray, there’s next to no starting talent available in free agency, and the open market probably isn’t the best place to find a new back anyhow. A few interesting veterans could be released in the coming months, however, and a few could be of note to the Packers. Specifically, Jamaal Charles, Ryan Mathews, and Jonathan Stewart would seemingly fit in the Green Bay offense if released (the former two are more likely to be cut than Stewart).

3) Address the front seven: Green Bay’s defensive line is probably set for the 2017 campaign, as Mike Daniels — one of the more underrated defenders in the NFL — Kenny Clark, and Letroy Guion all played well last season and should make up a solid front next year. The second level of the Packers’ defense, however, needs work, meaning the club could look to add both edge rushers and off-ball linebackers over the next few months.

The key to the revamp could be veteran ‘backer Clay Matthews, who spent time both inside and outside from 2014-15 before moving back to the edge full-time last season. The 30-year-old Matthews struggled, grading as the league’s No. 96 edge defender among 109 qualifiers, according to PFF. But his poor play can be somewhat excused by the nagging injuries that hampered him all year long. Still, given that Matthews will count more than $15MM on Green Bay’s salary cap in 2017, the club will have to at least explore the idea of releasing him or asking him to accept a paycut.

That course of action isn’t set in stone, however, and the Packers could simply hang onto Matthews in the hope that he fully recovers from his 2016 ailments and becomes the force he once was. Alternatively, Green Bay could consider moving Matthews back to inside linebacker, where he’d probably be an improvement over the likes of Jake Ryan, Joe Thomas, and Blake Martinez, and instead focus on bolstering the pass rush through other means. Matthews might not be amendable to such a shift, however, as he’s called outside linebacker his most “natural position.”

Edge options should be plentiful on the open market, but Green Bay’s search should begin with one of its own free agents, pass-rusher Nick Perry. The former first-round pick was forced to sign a one-year, $5MM deal to stay with the Packers last offseason, but he should land a larger contract after posting the best season of his career in 2016. In 14 games, Perry posted 11 sacks (eighth-most in the NFL, and nearly equal to his career total prior to last year) while grading out as an excellent run defender. Only 26 years old, Perry should require a long-term commitment this spring, and Green Bay should be willing to give it to him.

Datone Jones, another former first-rounder, has never seemed like a great scheme fit and figures to look for greener pastures in free agency, while veteran Julius Peppers hasn’t yet decided if he’ll continue his career next season. Even if Peppers does return, the Packers should seek another edge rusher, either through free agency or the draft. Free agent targets might include Jabaal Sheard (whose versatility would play nicely in Green Bay) or a low-cost option in the Cowboys’ Ryan Davis, while the draft could produce acquisitions such as Tennessee’s Derek Barnett, Alabama’s Tim Williams, or Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt.

Top 3 Offsesason Needs: Oakland Raiders

January 25th, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Oakland Raiders, who ended a 13-season playoff drought by going 12-4 and advancing to the AFC bracket. A historically ill-timed injury to Derek Carr spoiled the Raiders’ realistic chances at making a postseason run, but the team is well-positioned to be a factor for years to come. Whether they’re going to be identified with Oakland or Las Vegas, the Raiders have the pieces to be considered one of the AFC favorites in 2017.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Nate Allen, S
Denico Autry, DE (RFA)
Daren Bates, S
Jon Condo, LS
SaQwan Edwards, S (ERFA)
D.J. Hayden, CB
Andre Holmes, WR
Gabe Holmes, TE (ERFA)
Denver Kirkland, G-T (ERFA)
Stacy McGee, DT
Matt McGloin, QB
Latavius Murray, RB
Perry Riley, LB
Mychal Rivera, TE
Seth Roberts, WR (RFA)
Malcolm Smith, LB
Brynden Trawick, S
Menelik Watson, T

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Kelechi Osemele, G: $13,200,000
Sean Smith, CB: $9,500,000
David Amerson, CB: $8,500,000
Michael Crabtree, WR: $7,000,000
Bruce Irvin, LB: $7,000,000
Rodney Hudson, C: $6,850,000
Austin Howard, T: $6,400,000
Amari Cooper, WR: $6,180,151
Donald Penn, T: $6,100,000
Khalil Mack, LB/DE: $5,942,683

Other:

Projected cap space (via OverTheCap): $46,560,487
24th pick in draft
Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for LB Khalil Mack

Three Needs:

1.) Address the defensive interior: Extensions for Derek Carr and, eventually, Khalil Mack will begin to affect the Raiders’ offseason spending after years of the team’s payroll being devoid of homegrown re-ups. But if they were going to make a big outside investment at a position this year, interior defensive line would be a key spot to target. Oakland actually entered training camp in fairly good shape here, but enduring the ignominy of finishing a season with a league-worst 25 sacks despite having a possible defensive player of the year leading that charge will force Reggie McKenzie into addressing this area. Mack and Bruce Irvin delivered 18 of those 25 sacks and give the Raiders their best set of bookend pass-rushers since Howie Long and Greg Townsend during their early Los Angeles days. But they don’t have a lot of help right now.

Mario Edwards remains an intriguing prospect, but this latest injury — a hip malady that sidelined him for 14 regular-season games after he was initially expected to be shelved for merely a few — showed durability will likely be an issue. He’s now missed 16 games in two years. The Raiders can’t count on him to be the top interior presence he was in 2015, when he graded out as a top-10 run-stopper among edge defenders (per Pro Football Focus). Edwards is the Raiders’ best holdover interior rusher and when available solves multiple problems for a defense that ranked 23rd against ground attacks, but Oakland needs help here.

Its investment in Jihad Ward did not reveal a piece ready to make an impact, with the raw second-rounder recording no sacks in 13 starts. PFF tabbed the Illinois product as its worst interior defender. Denico Autry profiles as a backup at best. Stacy McGee finished with 2.5 sacks to lead the uninspiring supporting cast, and he’s a UFA. Oakland uses both 4-3 and 3-4 looks, with new defensive assistant John Pagano likely to implement additional usage of the latter alignment, and has run-stopping DTs Dan Williams and Justin Ellis under contract for 2017. Neither is a high-end option, and Williams’ $4.5MM cap number can be shed entirely to gain more space if the Raiders so choose. But the team will need some incumbents to supplement whatever talent is acquired. However, as the only non-rookie-deal player in this mix, Williams looms as a release candidate.

An issue in upgrading on the D-line could be a lack of realistic options to make any kind of real impact on the UFA market. Kawann Short is unlikely to leave Carolina, and if Calais Campbell manages to make it to the market, he will be seeking a major payday. The 30-year-old dynamo would obviously be a fit, but given the current level at which he’s playing, Campbell could command $10MM per year or close to it on a medium-length deal. That would be a pursuit McKenzie would be wise to be involved in, but again, the Cardinals — who have spent to retain their homegrown defenders — would have to pass on him before the new league year commences. Nick Fairley capitalized on his prove-it deal with the Saints and could have a robust market for his services. Fairley’s career-high 6.5 sacks gave the former first-rounder three seasons of at least 5.5 takdeowns. While he’s not known as being a particularly formidable run-defending presence, the 29-year-old would provide a major upgrade as an inside pass-rusher. He would prefer to stay in New Orleans but may like what he encounters on the market if he makes it back to free agency.

Beyond Campbell and Fairley, players like former Raider Vance Walker — who is coming off a torn ACL but was productive in 2015 for the Broncos as an off-the-bench pass-rusher — and Alan Branch would represent some mid-tier stopgap avenues. The Titans’ Karl Klug also profiles as an under-the-radar buy and would fit as a three-technique rusher the Raiders covet.

ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Raiders taking Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell in the first round of his initial mock draft (ESPN Insider link). Florida’s Caleb Brantley also could be available when the Raiders pick at 24, but with this position generally flooding first rounds in the recent past, it’s difficult to see a gap between Jonathan Allen — expected to go in the top five — and these talents existing in time for the Raiders to potentially choose between them. One of them might still be around by the time the Raiders are on the clock, however. McDowell is a proven disruptive presence who, while not being the most productive sacker (7.5 in three seasons in East Lansing), would add much-needed young talent to the Raiders’ rotation. If they wanted to wait until Day 2 to address this need, players like Chris Wormley (Michigan) and Jaleel Johnson (Iowa) showed ability to beat Big Ten offensive linemen, registering 5.5 and 7.5 sacks, respectively, in 2016.

2.) Find answers at non-rush linebacker: For the first time in years, a batch of glaring needs aren’t staring down the Raiders. But both of Oakland’s three-down linebackers are UFAs. The team also must balance how it approaches this position due to the financial issues that are set to enter into play. Irvin is already signed through 2019 to a top-market deal for 4-3 outside linebackers — even if his responsibilities are closer to a 3-4 edge player’s. A potential record-breaking extension for Mack is coming as well, so Oakland will need to be mindful of how much it contributes to its non-rush linebacker spots. But these positions certainly present a noticeable short-term need, with Malcolm Smith and Perry Riley being UFAs.

Riley came in midseason and proved to be a vital fixture for a team that could not find an answer at middle linebacker. Recent draft picks Ben Heeney and Cory James could not stick there, either due to injury or present talent level, and after an October signing, Riley finished the season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 15 non-rush linebacker. His career profile resembles that of David Amerson, being a Redskins castoff who found a spot to revive his career in Oakland. Riley, though, will turn 29 this offseason. It’s unlikely both Riley and Smith return, as the Raiders’ defense (No. 23 in DVOA) was not talented enough for a run-it-back scenario here — especially given what it would cost to retain both — so a setup where the team finds a linebacker in free agency and one with a high draft pick makes sense. A mid-term Riley pact could be a solid low-cost option if the Raiders are intent on preserving some capital.

Heeney, James and Neiron Ball still factor into the equation, but none of the trio has given indications he’s the answer as a three-down linebacker thus far. The priority should be finding players who can contribute on passing downs, when Irvin and Mack move to defensive end. Oakland owns its lowest pick since 2003, but traditional linebackers can be added without upper-first-round selections.

Oakland won’t be able to realistically target Alabama’s Reuben Foster, but could be in position to add Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham (125 tackles, 16.5 for loss, in 2016) with its No. 24 pick. Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan (back-to-back 100-tackle seasons) and Northwestern’s Anthony Walker (29 tackles for loss in the 2015 and ’16 seasons) also qualify as options if the Raiders want to take an inside ‘backer in Round 1. This would be drafting for need, and given the ability to find ILBs down the draft board, such a tactic may not be the best use of a first-rounder.

If the Raiders pass on this position in the first round, they will need to address it at some point in their next few selection windows, because it’s unlikely they’re adding two veterans to fill the current vacancies, not when they could soon be the rare club with two $20MM-per-year players. The team hasn’t deployed a long-term presence at inside ‘backer since Kirk Morrison in the late 2000s, so infusing the defense with a high-level prospect to go along with Mack, Irvin and Karl Joseph makes sense as a foundation-setting move. Then again, is inside linebacker worth a foundation pick? Depends on the organization’s viewpoint.

As far as free agency goes, it’s not a special crop. Dont’a Hightower likely won’t make it to the market, and Lawrence Timmons could be eyeing a big third contract surpassing recent 30-plus linebackers like Derrick Johnson or David Harris. Johnson signed for $7MM AAV last year, and Timmons is nearly three years younger. Zach Brown, Kevin Minter and Manti Te’o are lesser-known options. Brown will undoubtedly seek a raise after signing a one-year deal with the Bills for $1.125MM last spring, but with 149 tackles this season and plus coverage skills, the 27-year-old ‘backer is someone who fits the profile of a UFA target. Te’o now becomes a more realistic option due to his history with Pagano, although he’s coming off injury and an inconsistent four years in San Diego.

3.) Add a third receiving option: The Raiders’ offense powered them into the playoffs, but it did stall at some inopportune times — both Chiefs contests being a prime example — even with Carr in the fold. Oakland has needs at tackle and in the secondary, but the team may consider making a move to add a third pass-catching weapon.

Neither the auxiliary receivers nor the tight ends did enough for the Raiders this season. Seth Roberts may be better suited as a No. 4 target, his penchant for clutch TD grabs notwithstanding. The top slot man eclipsed 40 yards in just two games and saw his yards-per-catch figure drop from 15.0 (480 total yards) in 2015 to 10.4 (397) in ’16. This is understandable given Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree comprising one of the league’s premier receiving tandems, but that duo could use more assistance. Oakland also did not receive much from its tight ends. Second-year man Clive Walford totaled fewer than 350 receiving yards for a second straight season despite seeing more time, and Mychal Rivera will likely not be retained as a UFA. There is room for an addition here, but it will have to be on a budget.

Their present top-heavy financial arrangement at the position, as well as the aforementioned needs, may preclude the Raiders from spending much here. But they might have some low-cost options in free agency before likely using at least one draft choice on a wideout. Kendall Wright and Jeremy Kerley profile as two UFA buy-low candidates.

Wright, 27, is coming off two down years, but the former first-round Titans pick did put together a 1,000-yard season in 2013. With two entrenched receivers outside, Wright would be clearly the third option — and given his current stock could fall into the Raiders’ price range. He hasn’t played in an upper-echelon offense or with a high-caliber quarterback. Considering his marginalization in Tennessee’s run-heavy attack in 2016, there could be some untapped potential for the former Baylor standout who seems to know he’s done in Nashville.

Kerley has put up reasonable numbers with poor quarterbacks for most of his career, save for a 2015 season during which he fell out of favor in Chan Gailey‘s then-potent Jets offense. He exceeded 800 receiving yards with Mark Sanchez in 2012 and surpassed 600 while equipped with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert this season. At 28 and as a lesser-regarded talent, Kerley should be available for less than Wright. Should Markus Wheaton not encounter a quality market for his services, he could be a short-term option as well while he attempts to rebuild from an injury-marred contract year.

Should the Raiders add a wide receiver in free agency, they could continue to let Walford develop. Although, 2017 looms as a critical year for the former third-round selection. Another season of substandard tight end production would result in the team moving to acquire a better option. The tandem of Walford and Lee Smith might be good enough for another year, if the Raiders can add a wideout capable of threatening defenses and taking some pressure off Cooper and Crabtree.

Having chosen Cooper with the No. 4 pick two years ago, the Raiders don’t need to use another high draft choice on a wideout. But come the middle rounds it should be a area the team looks to fortify, especially as receiver classes continue to enter the league with several talents ready to contribute. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has the Raiders selecting LSU wideout Malachi Dupre in the third round. Alabama’s ArDarius Stewart or Oklahoma statistical dynamo Dede Westbrook (1,524 yards, 17 air TDs in 2016) profile as appealing second-round talents.

The Raiders were fortunate neither Crabtree nor Cooper missed any time in 2016, because the team would have been severely undermanned in that event. If nothing else, the Silver and Black need depth. As of now, Oakland’s receiving corps houses two ex-top-10 picks and UDFAs. A middle-ground supplementary option would help.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Chicago Bears

January 24th, 2017 at 6:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Chicago Bears, who regressed to a 3-13 record in their second season under head coach John Fox‘s leadership.