Highlighting Oakland Raiders' Biggest Offseason Challenges

Although the Oakland Raiders still have three games remaining in the 2013 season, the Raider Nation is likely already looking ahead to what should be the most eventful offseason for their team in quite some time.

This is a team that on the surface looks to be a number of years from contention, but if the right moves can be made, it could happen much faster than many think.

The front office will have a number of ways in which to do so, possessing both a full slate of draft selections and what should be more salary-cap space than any other team in the league.

Of course, this kind of salary-cap flexibility that has always been foreign to the Raiders organization must be used wisely, but they have an opportunity to address all of their most pressing needs in just one offseason.

Here is a breakdown of the Oakland Raiders' biggest offseason challenges ahead.

Finding a Franchise Quarterback

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Although football is more of a team sport than any other, there is no questioning just how important it is to have an elite player at the quarterback position.

In Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin, the Raiders have two players that have shown flashes of future potential and playmaking ability. However, with the resources the front office will have at their disposal this offseason, they will still likely target a franchise quarterback if one becomes available.

Should the Raiders go winless for the rest of the season, which is a realistic possibility with their tough remaining schedule, they could easily find themselves selecting within the top three picks of the NFL draft.

With a pick this high, depending on how the teams in front of them select, the Raiders could end up with their choice of any of the draft's top quarterbacks, in what is a potentially strong year for the position.

Not only is the draft an option, but with the money they will have to spend in the offseason, a top free-agent quarterback like Jay Cutler could be a possible target as well.

Going with a veteran quarterback in free agency would create the potential for a more immediate impact from the position, as well as allowing the team to address other areas of significant need with what will be a high draft selection.

Whichever way they choose to do it, the most important challenge the Raiders face this offseason is finding their franchise quarterback. Doing so effectively could make them contenders as soon as next season.

Adding a No. 1 Wide Receiver

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Whoever it is that ends up being the Raiders' quarterback of the future will need weapons around him to succeed.

Young wideouts Denarius Moore and Rod Streater have shown impressive ability and growth in a short period of time, but even they would benefit greatly from another player drawing the coverage attention of opponents.

Where the Raiders are going to find such a player remains to be seen, but it should be a priority throughout an offseason in which they have so much financial flexibility.

A player like the Eagles' Jeremy Maclin would make a lot of sense, as his speed alone would stretch defenses exactly the way the Raiders need to do.

Going with a receiver as high as the Raiders will select early in the first round of the draft is unlikely, but the middle rounds are certainly possible.

Either way they look to do it, adding a top receiver will be a challenging task but is something the Raiders need to do this offseason.

Adding Talent on Defensive Line

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The Raiders have one of the league's best young defensive linemen in Lamarr Houston but need to add talent around him for this defense to get where it needs to be.

Earlier in the season, defensive coordinator Jason Tarver was able to manufacture pressure through a variety of blitz packages, but the effectiveness of which has subsided as of late.

To maximize the potential of this defensive system moving forward, the Raiders must be able to rush the passer without having to send additional linebackers or defensive backs and leaving the secondary exposed.

Should they not go the quarterback route with their first-round pick, pass rushers like Jadeveon Clowney, Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack could be available, and each would make an immediate impact on this defense.

Of course, players at both tackle and end can also be found in the middle rounds, as well as in free agency.

As impressive as the Raiders' defense has looked at times throughout the 2013 season, adding a few starters and some quality depth across the defensive line could make them a top-10 unit in 2014.

Re-Signing Key Free Agents

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As much money as the Raiders will be able to spend this offseason, it is no guarantee they will be able to re-sign their own key players now in the final year of their contracts.

All players and agents know just how much and how fast being on the open market can drive up their price tag, and becoming a free agent is an important time in a player's career as a result.

It goes without saying that the Raiders will want to re-sign impending free agents like Jared Veldheer and Lamarr Houston, to name a few, but being able to do so before other teams can get involved is another matter.

With so many ways to get better by means of player acquisitions this offseason, the Raiders' No. 1 priority should be using their salary-cap space to re-sign their own core players.

Settling Coaching Situation

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Considering how competitive this year's Raiders team has been, amid a massive re-building project and a league record in dead money on the salary cap, Dennis Allen deserves to remain the head coach moving forward.

At this point, coaching is not what's keeping this team from being a playoff contender, but rather it's the talent level they currently have. While coaching is the easy thing to blame, realistic analysis suggests the Raiders have simply been outplayed in their now nine losses rather than poorly coached.

At the same time, all too often in the NFL, results in the win-loss column can far outweigh any sort of potential regardless of such difficult situations.

If the Raiders go without winning another game for the remainder of the season, they will have lost their final six, and questions will be raised surrounding Allen and his job security.

Whichever direction the front office chooses to go, they have a difficult decision ahead of them in regards to who will lead, or continue to lead, this team coming out of what will be its most important offseason in quite some time.