Five Ways the Oakland Raiders Can End "Perfect" Offseason

The Oakland Raiders have had one of the strongest offseasons in the entire league. Not only did the team trade for all-world Antonio Brown, but they signed a strong free agent class. Players such as Trent Brown, Lamarcus Joyner, Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall should all make an immediate impact. While it's unknown how the draft class will pan out, they added another three players who should contribute immediately in Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs and Johnathan Abram. Overall, the 2019 Oakland Raiders look much different than their 2018 cousin. ESPN's Dan Graziano had this to say about the team's offseason:

I count as many as eight potential Raiders starters who weren't on their roster when the 2018 season ended. They traded for Antonio Brown, hit free agency hard and picked four players in the first two rounds of the draft who have a chance to play a lot of snaps this year. Last year was a tough tear-down, but this year's Raiders roster looks more like what Jon Gruden is trying to build.

With OTAs coming soon, fans will finally get to see the team's new additions in action. That being said, that doesn't mean the team isn't done building. Whether it be trade or free agency, the Raiders will likely look a bit different come Week One. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden are still looking for ways to improve the team. As they look to put a final bow on their offseason, these five moves could make the Raiders' 2019 additions, "perfect."

Trade for Kyle Rudolph

While the Raiders have done an excellent job adding to their receiving room, tight end remains a question mark. Currently Darren Waller and fourth rounder Foster Moreau should see the majority of time at the position. Waller certainly has potential. He stands 6'6" and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at his NFL Combine. However, his size/speed potential has yet to develop into on-field production. Over his three seasons in the league, Waller has caught 18 passes for 178 yards for two touchdowns. The Georgia Tech product has a chance to stretch the field, but is very far away from sure thing. Moreau showed potential at LSU, catching 52 passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns. While he could end up being an offensive contributor, he is much more of a blocker than anything else. He could function in the Lee Smith role, but his red zone and short-yardage potential could be limited. The fourth-round rookie was named a surprise sleeper by Bleacher Report, but like Waller, is far from a sure-thing. The Raiders have a clear need at tight end and could acquire their dream fit in Minnesota Viking star Kyle Rudolph. Currently the Vikings and Rudolph looked poised for divorce. The player and team are at a standstill when it comes to contract talks. The team also used a second round pick on former Alabama stud Irv Smith Jr. It appears that Rudolph is out the door in Minnesota. If he could be acquired for a late round pick, or perhaps Karl Joseph, then the Raiders should look to add him to their offense. With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams on the outside and Kyle Rudolph on the side, Oakland could have one of the better passing offenses in the entire NFL. Rudolph has appeared in all 16 games in five of his eight NFL seasons, including the past four. Over those four years he has at least 49 catches for 495 yards and four scores. In 2018 he started all 16 games, catching 64 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns. His receptions and yards were both the second highest of his career. Pro Football Focus points out that his 1.9% drop rate over the past two years is lowest among tight ends with at least 300 routes run. Adding Rudolph would give the Raiders another effective weapon in the offense. If Derek Carr takes a step forward, the Raiders could truly shine. Rudolph likely wouldn't cost more than a late round pick and would completely change the tight end room on and off the field.

Trade For La'El Collins

Yes two trades. While the Raiders shoudln't necesarily be in the market of trading draft picks, they do have a perfect trade option in Karl Joseph. After signing Joyner, drafting Abram and declining Joseph's option, the former first round could/should be on the outs in Oakland. The idea of trading Joseph for Collins was popularized by Marcus Mosher of Raiders Wire. Mosher writes:

Dallas may not be even considering trading Collins, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. He is a player that could instantly improve the offensive line for the Raiders, and it likely wouldn’t cost them an arm and a leg to do so. Don’t be surprised if Collins is subject to trade rumors over the next several months.

The Cowboys used a third round pick on lineman Connor McGovern. With Collins poised for free agency and Dallas having to re-sign Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, Collins could be on the trade block. If so, swinging a deal for the lineman could solidify what should be a strong offensive line. Currently Denzelle Good is poised to be the starter at left guard. However, Good received a below average 52.5 grade from PFF during the 2018 season. He is a clear weak link on the Raiders' O-Line. In comparison, Collins received an above average 71.1. He has played both tackle and guard and has shown at times how dominant he could truly be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75TfvoqtKXs An offensive line from left to right of Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, Collins and Kolton Miller would be one of the better lines in the league. They should be able to keep Derek Carr upright and open holes for Josh Jacobs in the run game. Collins would cost Karl Joseph at max, meaning he wouldn't cost much. He is a dominant force and would completely change the Raiders' offense. After adding Brown it's clear Oakland wanted to imrpove their line. A final addition of Collins would give the Raiders a major boost on offense in 2019 and potentially beyond.

Sign One of Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh

The Raiders have done an excellent job adding veteran presences to their secondary and linebacking core. However, the defensive line remains very young. Signing a veteran at defensive tackle could help take the line to the next level. It has seemed all offseason that the Bucs and Gerald McCoy are heading towards a divorce. With his $13 million cap number, the Bucs may be poised to cut him and open up some more room. If so, the Raiders could probably sign him much cheaper than his current number. McCoy somewhat regressed in 2018 after six straight Pro Bowl seasons, but still amassed six sacks. He has at least six takedowns the past six seasons with at least seven from 2013-2016. He received an above average grade of 78.6 from PFF for his 2018 efforts. The Raiders need to do everything they can to improve on the abysmal 13 sacks they mustered last season. McCoy has proven time and time again that he has a knack for getting to the quarterback. Sliding him next to sophomore Maurice Hurst would be beneficial to not just the defense but the development of the former Michigan Wolverine. While certainly not the first option, if McCoy remains with the Bucs, free agent Ndamukong Suh would be a solid Plan B. Suh appeared in all 16 games for the Rams last season, making four and half sacks. He has at least four sacks every year of his nine-year career. Suh's play has definitely waned over the years, but he is just two years removed from being a Pro Bowl player with the Dolphins. Suh shined in 2018 according to PFF, earning a good 82.6 rating. The site called him an immediate impact free agent, siting his ability to pressure the quarterback. Like McCoy, Suh would be able to slide right in next to Hurst and provide the Raiders with another veteran pass rusher. He may not have the greatest reputation in the league, but he proved during the Rams' Super Bowl run that he could still be an effective play-maker. Both Suh and McCoy wouldn't cost too much and likely wouldn't be signed for more than two or three years. Both would give the Raiders a veteran presence at DT while allowing Hurst to grow. As Oakland looks to improve their sack totals, McCoy or Suh could do just the trick.

Treat Josh Jacobs as Immediate Starter Throughout Training Camp

We see often that despite taking a player in the first round, teams are willing to play mediocre veterans as the rookie learns the playbook. Last year the Browns selected Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick but still decided to start Tyrod Taylor Week One. It makes sense to not want to throw a rookie right into the fire, however, Josh Jacobs has all the intangibles and needs to be treated as the starter from the jump. Last year at Alabama, Jacobs rushed 120 times for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Crimson Tide's litany of running backs kept Jacobs from producing eye-catching numbers, however, he still proved to be the best pro-ready running back in the draft. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared to him to current New England Patriots' running back Sony Michel and wrote:

Prototypical combination of size and skill-set as an every-down runner with the ability to slash or impose his will on any given snap. Jacobs runs with good bend, vision and burst, and he proved to be an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield or from the slot. He will probe and burst, but he could become more elusive with better tempo as a runner. Jacobs is a decisive runner with outstanding one-cut talent to become a bellcow lead back.

For a team looking to build towards a playoff run, taking a running back in the first round seems like a luxury pick. If Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden didn't see Jacobs as the future, he wouldn't be selected. There's no point in having him sit behind Doug Martin if he has true bellcow abilities. Last season, the Raiders as a whole finished 25th in the NFL with just 1,628 yards on the ground. Their 4.2 yards per carry ranked 23rd whereas their nine rushing touchdowns ranked tied for 27th. Bottom line, Oakland needs to improve on the ground. Martin looked decent last season, but he is not the future. He isn't the type of back you sit a first round pick behind. While he is likely to steal some touches from Jacobs, there's no reason for him to be getting starting looks in training camp. The Raiders have built a strong offensive line around Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson. If Kolton Miller shows improvement Oakland can have one of the better O-Lines in the league. Throwing Jacobs into the fire is a lot easier when you're strong in the trenches. Oakland's front office knew the team had to get better in the run game. In selecting Jacobs they acquired the best running back in the draft. He is the future of the franchise when it comes to the running back position. Whether he starts or not he is still going to see plenty of touches in 2019. That being said, trading away Amari Cooper and Kahlil Mack to sit a first-rounder behind Doug Martin seems pretty redundant. Jacobs needs to be the starting running back come Week One.

Sign Derrick Morgan

The Raiders have done a solid job rebuilding the linebacker core with Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall. One weak link however is that of Tahir Whitehead. Whitehead starting all 16 games for the Raiders in 2018. While he racked up an impressive 126 tackles, he came away with no sacks. Oakland could use to add a pass-rushing option at outside linebacker to rotate with Whitehead. One option could be that of Derrick Morgan. The former Tennesee Titan struggled in 2018, making just a half sack over 13 games. However, from 2016-2017 he made 16.5 sacks, proving he still has the ability to get to the quarterback. At just 30, the Raiders could take a chance on a short-term deal to see if Morgan still has the gas he did just two seasons ago. If so, he would provide a nice compliment to Whitehead on the outside. Morgan would have to transition into a 4-3 scheme, but as a long veteran he likely would have few problems. The former Titan has also battled the injury bug, but has appeared in at least 10 games every season of his career. Defensively, Morgan gives the Raiders another pass-rush option as they look to improve their sack totals. He would also function as a mentor for young players such as Ferrell and Key. Morgan may not be the same player he was in 2016, but on a short-term deal, he could be a low-risk high-reward type guy for the Raiders in 2019.