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Oakland Raiders impending free agents and top team needs

By Sayre Bedinger

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) and Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) in action during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) and Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) in action during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland Raiders are coming off of the franchise’s best season since the early 2000s. We take a look at their top needs and impending free agents…

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) and Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) in action during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) and Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) in action during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oakland Raiders are coming off of their best season in a long, long time. This is a team that is truly on the cusp of contending for a title, but some renovations are needed in the 2017 offseason, on both sides of the football.

Here in the next few pages, we want to take a look at some of the Raiders’ top unrestricted free agents, and what their top needs are heading into the offseason.

Latavius Murray, RB

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Murray, a 6-3 230 pound back, is coming off of a 12-touchdown season. He didn’t grade out all that well by Pro Football Focus metrics, but Murray was a significant piece of the Oakland offense. Still, I think they will let him test the waters of free agency. Running backs have been getting paid plenty on the open market, and Murray might have a chance to earn a more featured role elsewhere.

With under 200 carries this past year, the 27-year old Murray could get a nice payday from someone other than the Raiders if they decide to prioritize other positions in free agency. He’ll attract interest on the open market, but I’d put him at about a 50-50 shot to return to Oakland right now.

Murray averaged four yards per carry over the course of the last two seasons with 18 rushing touchdowns and a career high 26.7 percent of his runs resulting in first downs.

Perry Riley, LB

Playing in just 11 games this past season, Riley is the Raiders’ highest graded free agent according to Pro Football Focus (84.2). He finished the season with 48 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles, proving effective when he was actually on the field.

With the linebacker position an area of need for Oakland, they may look to re-sign Riley for another year or two while grooming a young player to eventually take over the role full-time. Just 28, Riley hasn’t played a full NFL season in over three years. His last season of at least 14 games was in 2014, when he finished with 93 tackles.

Stacy McGee, DL

McGee, 27, played in and started nine games this past season. He played just 221 snaps but was pretty effective, racking up 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He could be an asset to someone’s defensive line rotation, and the Raiders would probably like to keep him.

The former Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle will draw interest if the Raiders allow him to test the open market.

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