Teams Las Vegas Raiders - The Black Hole

[Chewy316]

Dont'a Hightower - some rumours NE may let him go to free agency, Chewy316 do you know any more? 27 years old so in the prime of his career, would be a great addition to our inside linebacking core.

I'd love him, but he's going to cost an arm and a leg. I won't be surprised to see him get in excess of 10 million per season. I'd rather Zach Brown who I think will come at around half of what Hightower will get (roughly 5 per year).

 

[manureid]

I'd love him, but he's going to cost an arm and a leg. I won't be surprised to see him get in excess of 10 million per season. I'd rather Zach Brown who I think will come at around half of what Hightower will get (roughly 5 per year).

Yeh, Hightower would be good but we have a few spots to fill so need to spread the cap around. Brown is on my wishlist for sure.

Do we reckon we will be looking for a vet QB to backup Carr, or will we ride with Cook? I wonder if someone like Cutler got cut, and he had no starting job offers anywhere, if he would sign a cap friendly deal? His INT history etc aside, would be a pretty handy guy to call on if like against the Texans, we needed someone who could sling it around a bit.

 

[Chewy316]

Yeh, Hightower would be good but we have a few spots to fill so need to spread the cap around. Brown is on my wishlist for sure.

Do we reckon we will be looking for a vet QB to backup Carr, or will we ride with Cook? I wonder if someone like Cutler got cut, and he had no starting job offers anywhere, if he would sign a cap friendly deal? His INT history etc aside, would be a pretty handy guy to call on if like against the Texans, we needed someone who could sling it around a bit.

I don't think Cutler is a realistic option. I'll be surprised if Cook is the #2 this season, but really, who knows at this point? I'm not concerned about that position. Outside of New England, any other franchise QB goes down and you're ****ed.

 

[manureid]

I don't think Cutler is a realistic option. I'll be surprised if Cook is the #2 this season, but really, who knows at this point? I'm not concerned about that position. Outside of New England, any other franchise QB goes down and you're ******.

GG.exe does not like this post!

 

[exe ex machina]

Cook will be the backup and eventually the #1 when Carr inevitably breaks another bone when sneezed on

 

[exe ex machina]

I'm starting to think for Reggie the roster needs priority (whether thru draft or fa) is....

1. CB
2. RB
3. MLB
4. CB
5. TE

 

[Chewy316]

I'm starting to think for Reggie the roster needs priority (whether thru draft or fa) is....

1. CB
2. RB
3. MLB
4. CB
5. TE

You've listed CB twice when it's unlikely we're going to make much of a change there. Sean Smith and Amerson will be the starters this upcoming season. They like Carrie but will get someone for the slot role, that's all.

They want to keep Murray at roughly 4 million per year. Murray's agent has asked for a bit more than that. There's a middle ground. RM is happy to let the market dictate what happens on that front.

Agree with you RE: TE. Won't be surprised if they make a play for Martellus Bennett.

MLB is going to be a big need as well.

Two positions that I expect RM to invest resources into this off-season which you haven't listed are on the D-Line and at OT.

 

[manureid]

Would have thought D first priority. MLB/DT and probably 1 more CB. Then RT possibly. If Murray goes I reckon we can get a bruiser RB in FA for a decent price. Bennett good in theory, is a bit of a lose cannon though isn't he?

 

[Chewy316]

Would have thought D first priority. MLB/DT and probably 1 more CB. Then RT possibly. If Murray goes I reckon we can get a bruiser RB in FA for a decent price. Bennett good in theory, is a bit of a lose cannon though isn't he?

Bennett is no more of a head case than the average player. He's a little more outspoken publicly, nothing really wrong with his character imo.

Murray is going to be a real interesting market because there aren't many good RBs in free agency this year. Almost all of them have many question marks associated with them. Murray doesn't really have many of those same questions.

 

[Chewy316]

Been quite a task putting this together, but get the REAL story on the Raiders stadium saga on Any Given Monday.

 

[exe ex machina]

Reggie was smart to draft Cook. He's got a year in the system. None of these QB's coming out this year are game-ready, according to Mayock...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...s-in-this-draft-not-ready-to-play-right-away/

-------------

All bias, silliness, jocularity aside....in all honesty.....Reggie was indeed smart. Cook was "arguably" a first round talent, up there with Goff and Wentz. So, he got a potentially excellent back-up / starter for a 4th round. McGloin was shit. Everyone knew. Except Dr Rob. There's no other decent vets around (look at the list of them, they all suck except for Cassel MAYBE). So Cook you could ALMOST say is on par with Carr talent / draft grade. We've potentially shored up the QB position for at least 5 years "just in case". And as you point out, Cook has a year in the system under his belt, got some never-to-be-underestimated valuable experience in his two games (both pressure cookers). So it can only be up for him in terms of becoming a reliable back-up who is "just as good and young" as the incumbent starter (Carr).

People rag on Reggie for trading up for Cook, but they do not realize the dearth of decent QBs in not only this draft but future drafts (given the preponderance of Spread/Shotgun QBs). Now the most important position (QB) is set.

 

[exe ex machina]

quote/unquote

 

[exe ex machina]

Someone slamming Cook, and the Exe responding....

--------

Dak's great form was evidence of a formidable coaching staff around him specific to his position (OC, QB coach, HC former QB). And him being eased in as the Steelers did with Roethlisberger.

Meanwhile....Raiders redshirted Cook (stupidly). No reps whatsoever all year. Then got thrown in the deep end like no one has ever before -- wk 17 for the div title vs #2 D, then starting playoff game vs #1 D.

And all things being equal....he accounted EXTREMELY well for himself GIVEN all that. To write his performances off in those two games is insanity.

 

[exe ex machina]

more...

-----

<some players cant be held down, like r.wilson breaking out>
Russell Wilson was also eased in a la Roethlisberger his rookie year.

People forget how he basically just handed off to Lynch all the time, and relied on that #1 ranked D to keep the score low. He just had to dink and dunk for the first 10 or so games his rookie year. The D was good enough in itself to win games without his input really.

>you keep defending cook, but he didnt play well<
But we HAVE TO defend/excuse Cook. Given all that. We can't defend him if after this year his form sucks. But given what he went thru/etc, then you HAVE TO defend him. You cannot slam him whatsoever.

That's the point I'm making more than anything. People slamming him are wrong to AT THE JUNCTURE of what transpired for him. That DEFENDING him at that juncture is the correct pov to take.

Don't forget also....in that wk 17 game he played incredibly well. It was just that playoff game (and at the end when he was going for broke) that he threw a couple INTs to make his game look worse than what it did.

 

[andana]

Someone slamming Cook, and the Exe responding....

--------

Dak's great form was evidence of a formidable coaching staff around him specific to his position (OC, QB coach, HC former QB). And him being eased in as the Steelers did with Roethlisberger.

Meanwhile....Raiders redshirted Cook (stupidly). No reps whatsoever all year. Then got thrown in the deep end like no one has ever before -- wk 17 for the div title vs #2 D, then starting playoff game vs #1 D.

And all things being equal....he accounted EXTREMELY well for himself GIVEN all that. To write his performances off in those two games is insanity.

Also in that game AC & Crablegs had a lot of drops. It wasn't til the last q when Cook was throwing to Holmes that we started to look ok.
Bad news for Cook is that today Carr says he wants to be a Raider for life.

 

[andana]

I'd love him, but he's going to cost an arm and a leg. I won't be surprised to see him get in excess of 10 million per season. I'd rather Zach Brown who I think will come at around half of what Hightower will get (roughly 5 per year).

Hightower is available.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/zach-brown-9862/

 

[andana]

We have 47Million USD to spend. Why not get at least one gun LB.
If Edwards, McGee & Autry can stayfit & healthy & Latham & Ward can improve we would have a good Dline to help out Mack and Irvin.

 

[exe ex machina]

We should trade for Sheldon Richardson and then draft top lb prospect available at #24

 

[manureid]

We should trade for Sheldon Richardson and then draft top lb prospect available at #24

Good player, bit of a nutjob?

 

[LittleG]

We should trade for Sheldon Richardson and then draft top lb prospect available at #24

And sign a top LB free agent.

 

[manureid]

Be happy with Zach Brown (and Richardson at a good price with conditions).

 

[exe ex machina]

We need talent on D. Gotta spend and/or trade picks. Outside and f the first round it's all a crap shoot, no guarantee

 

[Chewy316]

We have 47Million USD to spend. Why not get at least one gun LB.
If Edwards, McGee & Autry can stayfit & healthy & Latham & Ward can improve we would have a good Dline to help out Mack and Irvin.

47 million to spend with Carr and Mack's contracts to be negotiated. When those contracts are done the actual cap room will be closer to 20 million. Enough to sign 3-4 solid guys but I wouldn't expect to break the bank on anyone this year.

Saying that we should have a good D-Line with the players you listed above is equivalent to saying that you're happy with the current group. We can't rely on Edwards being healthy. Even with Edwards this line needs more help.

We should trade for Sheldon Richardson and then draft top lb prospect available at #24

Why trade for Richardson? He's coming off a year in which he was a terrible pass rusher. Has an 8 million cap hit and is only under contract for 1 year. Spending a 3rd round pick on someone like that is an extremely risky move.

If we're going to pay 8 million (or thereabouts) to a D-Lineman, give me Calais Campbell or Brandon Williams.

I can see us drafting a ILB but not at #24. Then again, it's way too early in the draft process and boards are no where near set.

 

[andana]

Apart from one ILB expected to go top 10 there doesn't seem to be anyone else. 2 guys that maybe be anywhere from mid 1st round to late 2nd are said to be more likely to be OLB in the NFL. I'm not happy at all with the Dline but there is a chance they can all improve. We have to get some new ILB or it will just be a repeat of the last 2 seasons. I am sure the new coach - defence will be getting someone possibly even from the Chargers.

 

[Chewy316]

Apart from one ILB expected to go top 10 there doesn't seem to be anyone else. 2 guys that maybe be anywhere from mid 1st round to late 2nd are said to be more likely to be OLB in the NFL. I'm not happy at all with the Dline but there is a chance they can all improve. We have to get some new ILB or it will just be a repeat of the last 2 seasons. I am sure the new coach - defence will be getting someone possibly even from the Chargers.

As I said on my Any Given Monday podcast show last week, I see Foster sliding in the draft and I won't be surprised if he's available at #24.
The idea of OLB and ILB in the NFL is difficult to differentiate these days because 75% of the time D's are in sub packages so they only have 2 LBs on the field which have to do both your typical ILB and OLB roles anyway.
We only need one more LB to replace Malcolm Smith and re-sign Riley.