Reviewing the Oakland Raiders' 4 Biggest Scouting Combine Takeaways

The Oakland Raiders are entering a new era and it's an era where the 40-yard-dash time doesn't automatically qualify or disqualify a prospect from being drafted by the team.

Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen will usher in the new era and changes must be made to get the Raiders under the salary cap and improve the defense. 

Speed Not Emphasized

Reggie McKenzie reportedly chuckled at the notion that the Raiders would draft the fastest player in the 40-yard dash.

Al Davis believed the best athletes made the best football players, it was just a matter of coaching the players to be great. McKenzie will take a different approach, determining if the players can play first and using the combine to judge only their athletic ability and not their football ability.

Dennis Allen said during his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine:

"

If you got two guys that when you look at the tape, these guys are about the same football playing wise, well let’s take the faster guy. But we’re not going to take guys just because they run real fast. Because that doesn’t co-relate to being a good football player.

"

At best, speed is a tie-breaker for the new football regime in Oakland. 

McKenzie Is Working to Get Raiders Under the Cap

Reggie McKenzie met with agents of several players at the combine and is trying to  get the Raiders under the salary cap by the March 13 deadline. 

Players that need their contracts restructured: Richard Seymour, Kamerion Wimbley, Michael Huff, Aaron Curry and Tommy Kelly.

Wimbley, Huff, Curry and Kelly could all be at risk of being released if the Raiders can't reduce their cap numbers significantly.

Based on recent numbers, the Raiders still have $22 million in cap space to clear. That's certainly not an impossible amount of money to clear with a few players restructuring their deals. 

McKenzie needs to decide if the Raiders want to keep the players first, because restructuring only defers the pain if the player is not a long-term solution. 

Curry's cap number can only be reduced if he is extended beyond 2012 and his cap number is $5.7 million. That's a substantial amount of savings from one player and I wouldn't expect him to be back next season. 

Huff's cap number includes his $4 million base salary, $4 million roster bonus and $1.8 million of his prorated signing bonus. The Raiders would save approximately $4.4 million if Huff were to be released.That leaves plenty of room for restructuring as the Raiders would only need to get Huff down to $5.5 million to save the same amount against the cap.

Seymour's deal will have to be extended, but that alone will save the Raiders $5 million in cap room as Seymour's cap number is $15 million as it stands today.

Tommy Kelly's contract has his cap number near $9 million, with $6 million in base salary and $3 million in bonuses. The Raiders can convert some of Kelly's base salary to bonus and save against the cap, realistically to the tune of about $3 million. Releasing Kelly would be approximately the same in cap savings.

Wimbley's deal is the biggest and most difficult to navigate. He doesn't want to take a pay cut, but restructuring doesn't mean the player gets any less money than they would have under the original deal.

As it stands, $6.5 million of Wimbley's 2012 salary is already guaranteed and $4.5 million more will be guaranteed March 17 if he is still on the roster. 

Wimbley has leverage, but he's got big base salaries the next three years that he will not receive if he is released. The Raiders could offer to convert a portion of his base salaries over the next three seasons into bonuses in exchange for some relief in 2012.

In total, the Raiders could clear a total of $22.6 million by making the above moves. 

Raiders Looking to Address the Defense

Allen on focusing on linebackers and defensive ends at the Senior Bowl:

"

I think obviously, defensively that is going to be a priority for us. I think I was really pleased with what the Raiders were able to do last year offensively. I know from having to defend against them, they were a real challenge to defend. Defensively, if you look at the defensive rankings, not too different than what the situation I came into last year with Denver. So it’s obviously a high priority for us and we’ve got to get better in that area.

"

The Raiders will stand pat on offense and most of the focus will be correcting the Raiders' problems on defense.

Considering the players above with contract issues all play defense, it's reasonable to assume the Raiders would be drafting to fill those holes.

Cornerback, defensive end and linebacker are likely to be areas the Raiders focus in the draft.

Raiders Will Not Be Scared Away From a Player Due to Character Concerns

Dre Kirkpatrick met with the Raiders indicating McKenzie will keep his options open. Kirkpatrick is likely to be selected far before the Raiders get their first opportunity.

Kirkpatrick has off-the-field concerns, but Packers organization didn't steer clear of players with checkered pasts when McKenzie was there and it's safe to assume that's he wont start now.

McKenzie also brought in Brandon Underwood this offseason. It's not safe to remove any player with issues from the Raiders draft board. The Raiders are hoping they can find an undervalued player and are willing to live with off-the-field issues as long as they aren't impacting the player's ability to play football.