Raiders Free Agents re-sign priorities

The Raiders do have a few players coming up as free agents who the team should make a priority to re-sign for next season. Here are the Raiders free agents who should be high priorities, low priorities, and those who should be moving on.

High priority

Stefen Wisniewski C             UFA

Wisniewski said recently that the team has made contract offers to him but he wasn't interested in any of their offers. That doesn't mean Wisniewski is overvaluing himself. It could mean the team is undervaluing him. It has been a bit of a down year for the 4-year starter, but he is still considered a good NFL starting center.

If allowed to hit free agency, he would be in demand as best young center on the market and likely end up signing elsewhere. The Raiders cannot afford to lose even an average starter. Good starting centers don't come along every day and they have too many needs at other positions to risk creating another need and then having to use a draft pick to fill it. A franchise tender or transition tag could be in order if a contract can't be worked out, though we've discovered already the Raiders with current management are reluctant to hand those out.

Rod Streater WR         RFA

He has proven himself to be a starter level NFL wide receiver and is likely to receive some interest from other teams. As a restricted free agent, if the Raiders place a franchise tender on him, another team could sign him without having to give up any draft compensation, so the team's best option is to re-sign him or risk having to match any deal another team offers him. The Raiders need to upgrade their receiving corps but losing Streater in the process would be a step in the wrong direction.

Charles Woodson S             UFA

Yes, he will be 39-years old at the start of next season. But he started every game the past two seasons and is a Pro Bowl alternate this season. If he wants to come back for another season, why in the world would the Raiders say no to that? They shouldn't. He has earned the right to have an official farewell tour on his terms and is still one of the best defenders on this team.

C.J. Wilson DE      UFA

Probably the biggest surprise among the Raiders' free agent additions last season. He came in as a reserve run-stopping defensive end and earned a starting job. He does play the run well but also showed some pass rush abilities. He still flies under the radar and should be quite affordable, especially for a team with the cap money the Raiders have.

Low priority

Tarell Brown CB          UFA

Came to the team on a one-year deal and stared most the season at right cornerback with mixed results with no interceptions. He just turned 30, but if he is willing to come back for a cheap contract to compete for the job, that could be a valuable thing.

Pat Sims DT          UFA

Had his starting job taken by Justin Ellis. He won't get much interest on the market so a return on a minimum contract as a rotational nose tackle could be a good option for him. Or he could seek a starting gig elsewhere.

Vincent Brown WR         UFA

He is talented, but injury prone. Worth a camp invite and another chance to stay healthy.

Chimdi Chekwa CB          RFA

He will be back as a reserve corner and special teams player. He is a RFA and no one will be banging down the Raiders' door to get him.

Andre Holmes WR         RFA

The Raiders like him enough to make him a starter but he hasn't lived up to the potential they saw in him last year. If they think other teams will be interested in signing him and they want to keep him, they can put the minimum franchise tender on him. It's unlikely any team would step up and offer a big contract to him and if they did, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he walked.

Brandian Ross CB          RFA

He had a very good season for the Raiders but is unlikely to receive much interest as a restricted free agent. He will be back.

Jamize Olawale RB          RFA

A marginal fullback who has earned his return but the Raiders likely won't have competition for the restricted free agent.

Larry Asante S             UFA

Proved to be a very solid tackler and earned a return trip to camp on a minimum deal.

Marquette King P             RFA

He is a good punter, but he is still a punter. He's also a restricted free agent. Not a high priority but I could see him signing a friendly contract to remain with the Raiders.

Let ‘em walk

Darren McFadden RB          UFA

It was a little surprising he came back at all. To his credit, he played his first full season in the NFL. But he lost his starting job long after he should have. The team needs to finally move on from him, and I think they will.

Denarius Moore WR         UFA

Came into this season as a starter. Lost his job in week four and by week ten, he saw his last pass. He was a healthy scratch before getting a mysterious hip injury. It's a sad end for Denarius who was such an exciting player as a rookie.

David Ausberry WR         UFA

The Raiders have spent the past four seasons waiting for him to be their starting tight end. The experiment ended when he was injured in preseason for the second straight season and was placed on injured reserve.

Carlos Rogers CB          UFA

Rogers actually played fairly well before being lost to injury halfway through the season. He'll be 34-years-old in July and the Raiders have some young corners ready to step up. Rogers was on a one-year deal that wasn't ever meant to be more than that.

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