Key Additions (starting caliber players)
WR Antonio Brown (trade)
WR Tyrell Williams (FA)
OT Trent Brown (FA)
RB Josh Jacobs (Draft)
DE Clelin Ferrell (Draft)
DT Johnathan Hankins (FA)
LB Brandon Marshall (FA)
LB Vontaze Burfict (FA)
S Lamarcus Joyner (FA)
S Johnathan Abram (Draft)
CB Trayvon Mullen (Draft)
Key Losses
OG Kelechi Osemele
TE Jared Cook
OL Donald Penn
WR Jordy Nelson
RB Marshawn Lynch
S Reggie Nelson
CB Rashaan Melvin
The Oakland Raiders’ massive overhaul this offseason has been nothing short of entertaining.
Jon Gruden and new GM Mike Mayock don’t care what anyone from the outside thinks. They are going to go after guys they believe they can build around, and that’s evidenced by the moves they made.
It was a bold move to go after Antonio Brown and pay him exactly what he wants just one year after trading away Khalil Mack because they wouldn’t pay him what he wants.
We can’t dwell on the Mack move forever (or can we?) so we’re going to look at what the Raiders actually brought in. This team is so different on paper compared to last year but it’s hard to argue they didn’t get better.
Brown is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Tyrell Williams was an underrated pickup. The Raiders drafted four starters and three for their defense. They have a new bellcow back in Josh Jacobs.
Trent Brown can hopefully help solidify their pass protection, though they got weaker inside with the loss of Kelechi Osemele.
The Raiders got better on both offense and defense this offseason, but did they do enough to vault themselves into competition for the AFC West?
This is like a crazy chemistry experiment with a ton of random ingredients and a mad scientist at the helm of it all. We’ll see if he makes something beautiful or something really ugly.