Free agency starts Monday and the Raiders are still hacking away at troublesome contracts to get under the salary cap. Once the Raiders are comfortably under the salary cap they will turn their attention to signing free agents.
It wouldn’t be uncommon for a team to end up signing the majority of their own free agents, but this is no ordinary year in Oakland. Reggie McKenzie will try to re-shape the roster and the fringe-roster players could all be seeking employment on Monday.
Some Raiders’ free agents will be retained and others will be boarding flights to different cities in 201
QB Jason Campbell
Odds he leaves in free agency: 96%
Campbell is a classy player that understands the business side of the game. He didn’t make any noise when he was benched in favor of Bruce Gradkowski and he stuck around to support the team even though the Raiders had moved on from him last season.
Despite the bonds Campbell forged in Oakland, he’ll be boarding a flight for a new city in 2012. Where will depend on who wins the Peyton Manning sweepstakes and which teams rolls the dice on Matt Flynn.
Teams that need a quarterback include, Miami, Cleveland, Washington, Arizona, Seattle, Denver, Kansas City and Jacksonville.
Campbell may find it difficult to find a starting job in 2012, but that doesn’t mean he wont select a team where his odds of starting are increased.
Denver would be an interesting location for Campbell. Tebow’s success appears unsustainable and they don’t have much behind him. Unless the Dolphins lose
QB Kyle Boller
Odds he leaves in free agency: 100%
Boller will be hard-pressed to find a job as a second or third quarterback and it’s probably close to the end of the line for Boller.
RB Michael Bush
Odds he leaves in free agency: 90%
The Franchise Tag was given to Tyvon Branch, leaving Michael Bush to test the waters of free agency.
While the Raiders might want Bush to return, there will be teams calling that are willing to offer Bush much more than the Raiders will be able to offer.
The Bengals find themselves looking for a starting runningback for the first time in many years. Cedric Benson fizzled out as a starter and the Bengals will be looking for a back to pair with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. The Bengals can find more balance offensively if they sign a legitimate starter and Bush has proven valuable and durable as the backup in Oakland. Potential fit.
RB Rock Cartwright
Odds he leaves in free agency: 25%
Cartwright was the Raiders’ special teams captain in 2012 and will come cheaply. Expect the Raiders to keep Cartwright around in 2012, but he wont be a top priority. He’s expressed a desire to stay with the Raiders and the Raiders will eventually return the favor.
WR Chaz Schilens
Odds he leaves in free agency: 85%
Vincent Jackson is ready to find a new team and that leaves a hole at receiver in San Diego. The Chargers rarely open up the bank for a free agent, so Schilens potential and affordability make Schilens an interesting target for the Chargers.
Schilens is familiar with San Diego having gone to college at San Diego State and he’s a native of southern California.
The Chargers have seen enough of Schilens to know he has talent, but not so close that they realize that he’s been healthy for one year of his career.
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
No one wanted him seven games into the 2011 season before Carson Palmer and Hue Jackson called. He didn’t do much with his time catching 11 passes for 146 yards in nine games.
He’ll file back into the unemployment line and that’s likely where he will remain.
C Samson Satele
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
Satele will reportedly not be retained by the Raiders. While that’s certainly not a bad move, Satele is cheap and can backup multiple positions on the offensive line. He’ll find a work somewhere.
RT Khalif Barnes
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
Barnes was not a very good starter at right tackle, but he could be signed to be a backup lineman somewhere in 2012
The Raiders will shift to younger players and/or players that fit the zone-blocking scheme and neither describe Barnes.
OL Stephon Heyer
Odds he leaves in free agency: 98%
Heyer was brought in to challenge for a starting job and he never did although one could argue the line played better when he was at left guard and Stefen Wisniewski was at center.
Regardless, Heyer is a free agent and doesn’t fit into the Raiders’ plans to shift to zone-blocking.
DE Trevor Scott
Odds he leaves in free agency: 48%
Scott is one player that might benefit from the Raiders new defense and he’ll be inexpensive to retain. It wasn’t long ago when Scott was an up-and-coming pass rusher and that might be enough to intrigue Dennis Allen. Intrigued enough to keep Scott in Oakland?
DE Jarvis Moss
Odds he leaves in free agency: 84%
Things didn’t work out for Moss in Denver or Oakland and Moss will be looking for his third team in 2012.
He flashes ability, but he’s far too inconsistent. Gut feeling is Rex Ryan calls and offers Moss a job as a backup with the Jets.
LB Ricky Brown
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
He was a player with ties to the organization and Al Davis kept coming back to Brown when he needed him.
Brown will have a tough time finding a team in 2012 and there is a very good chance
LB Quentin Groves
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
Groves was benched in favor of Aaron Curry mid-season and outside of solid special teams play offered little more than a body for the Raiders defense.
He’ll be in a different uniform in 2012.
LB Darryl Blackstock
Odds he leaves in free agency: 95%
He was a special teams player and was familiar with Chuck Bresnahan from his days as a coach for a UFL team. Given Blackstock is affordable and there isn’t much film on the guy, it’s conceivable the Raider will give him the opportunity to earn a roster spot in camp.
CB Lito Sheppard
Odds he leaves in free agency: 93%
Veteran cornerbacks that are on the street mid-season aren’t typically the type you want starting down the stretch, but Sheppard is a veteran and he’s smart.
He may be limited more now than he used to be, but he can still be relatively effective as a backup.
FS Matt Giordano
Odds he leaves in free agency: 50%
Giordano is familiar with Dennis Allen from his time with the Saints, but it is unknown if Allen has a favorable opinion of Giordano.
Giordano had five interceptions last season playing part-time, but also seemed to shy away from contract and let far too many receivers behind him to feel comfortable with him as anything more than a backup.
SS Jerome Boyd
Odds he leaves in free agency: 98%
Boyd is a fringe roster player and bounced between the practice squad and the active roster. Unless McKenzie and Allen see something in Boyd worth developing they will set their sights on other players.
DB Bryan McCann
Odds he leaves in free agency: 99%
Filled in admirably for Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore in the return game. He’s a specialist and given his success in that area he could find a home in 2012.
There is an outside chance the Raiders might keep McCann around to limit the wear on the Raiders’ two young receivers.
FB Marcel Reece
Odds he leaves in free agency: 0%
As a restricted free agent, if another team wanted to sign Reece they’d have give the Raiders compensation depending on the level of the tender. That’s extremely unlikely and Reece is considered a big part of what the Raiders want to do on offense.
Don’t worry, Reece will be back with the Raiders in 2012.
DE Desmond Bryant
Odds he leaves in free agency: 2%
Like Reece, Bryant is a restricted free agent. He’s a great rotational lineman and can play multiple positions on the defensive line.
He’ll undoubtedly be back this season.