10 free agents still available who would upgrade the Raiders roster

The Oakland Raiders were very quiet on the first day of free agency. And as some of their special team and backup players were signed away by other teams, fans became increasingly worried about the inactivity in Oakland.

After a couple of years spending big money in free agency, the Raiders no longer need to do that. They have a solid roster with some needs to address but not a roster so desolate they need to overpay early in free agency like in the past.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t upgrade the roster. Here’s a look at some remaining players who would be nice additions for the Silver and Black:

Kendall Wright

Coming off of back to back poor seasons, Wright will be pretty cheap. After two rather impressive seasons to start his career, Wright found himself struggling with injuries and consistency the past couple of years. Clearly unhappy with his situation in Tennessee, Wright is hoping to find his way back to being a thousand yard receiver with a new team like Michael Crabtree did recently.

Martellus Bennett

Some people don’t like the idea of Bennett but if he is signed by the Raiders, he will be Crabtree all over again. Those who hated him will suddenly be eating crow midseason as they enjoy watching their new tight end tear up opposing defenses. Some think the Raiders offense is fine and they should focus on defense, but you never want to sleep on supporting your franchise quarterback. We all know the Raiders were among the worst in the league in dropped balls last year. Getting Derek Carr a consistent threat at tight end, something he’s never had, would be huge for this offense. Plus, Bennett is a good blocker and doesn’t have to come off of the field on run downs.

Kelvin Beachum

Now a full years removed from an ACL injury, Beachum is a guy who could bring big value at a decent price. He was solid in Jacksonville last year, helping the team give up the fewest sacks in over a decade. His run blocking left something to be desired but there is reason to believe he will improve. Beachum had pain and swelling in his knee this season, which was expected as he came back from the ACL injury but also played a role in him struggling a little. If he is willing to move to right tackle, he would be an upgrade to the offensive line.

Bennie Logan

One of the free agents the Raiders lost was defensive tackle Stacy McGee. While McGee was a nice rotational player, he wasn’t a special talent that the Raiders should be worried about losing. Why? Because they can find other rotational players to replace him, like Bennie Logan. A big young nose tackle who can help solidify the interior of the defensive line, Logan isn’t a big pass rush threat but is no slouch either, recording 2.5 sacks last season, the same as McGee and good enough for third on the Raiders.

Johnathan Hankins

Only 24 years old and one of the best interior run defenders in the league, Hankins is a guy the New York Giants would love to keep but can’t afford to. That could be a huge gain for the Raiders who can use help at defensive tackle. He’s not a huge pass rush threat with three sacks last season, but he’s an elite run defender who can help out a bit in the pass rush. Plus, as noted, he is super young and can be a contributor on this team for years to come.

Jared Odrick

I’ve already talked about how I think Odrick would be a very good fit for the Raiders and I;m doubling down. Coming off of an injury shortened season, Odrick just passed a physical on a visit with the Patriots so we know he is healthy. The year before last when he was healthy, Odrick tallied 5.5 sacks as a rotational player. He can play defensive end or defensive tackle and would be great as a situational pass rusher to help get pressure up the gut.

Dont’a Hightower

One of the surprising guys still left on the market, Hightower was thought to be a top target. But after realizing his market isn’t as big as he thought, there’s a chance he returns to New England. If he doesn’t, the Raiders might be able to come away with the talented young linebacker at a good price. He may not be the greatest in coverage but he’s no worse than Perry Riley and he’s a lot better than Riley as a run stuffer and pass rusher.

Zach Brown

 Coming off of the best season of his career, Brown is hoping to prove it wasn’t a fluke. He was clearly much better in Buffalo than he was in Tennessee and one has to wonder if it was because he was on a one year, prove it deal. But regardless, he proved it. I still feel like Brown often makes poor decisions and tries to make up for it with superior athleticism but there’s no question he would be an upgrade in coverage right away.

Kevin Minter

Another option at inside linebacker, Minter is much more of a run down backer than he is a coverage specialist. That being said, he is still a guy who could come in and at the very least compete with Perry Riley for the starting middle linebacker position. He’s seen as a big hitter who could instill some fear in opposing offenses. I don’t think he’s the long term answer but he would be a nice stop gap or depth if his price tag isn’t too high.

 Captain Munnerlyn

One of the best slot corners for years, Munnerlyn would be a great pickup for Oakland. He’s not young but he is a savvy veteran who would fill a need and upgrade the secondary immediately. He should come cheap since he is exclusively a slot corner but luckily for the Raiders, that’s exactly what they need.

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