5 Biggest Needs the Oakland Raiders Have Yet to Address This Offseason

The Oakland Raiders have been able to address a handful of needs via free agency thus far.

However, general manager Reggie McKenzie’s job isn’t done. There are two glaring holes in the roster that are in need of impact players and a few roster positions in need of an upgrade in order to propel the Raiders to the playoffs.

First and foremost, Raiders Nation wants to know who will step in as playmakers on offense?

Secondly, where will the pass rush come from? No disrespect to Justin Tuck, but Oakland needs younger players who are willing to get after the quarterback and hold containment on the edges on a consistent basis.

Where else are the gaps within the roster? When and how will McKenzie address these roster deficiencies?

Here’s an offseason road map to revamping the Raiders’ roster going forward.

Wide Receiver

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Step one: Obtain your quarterback. Derek Carr, check.

Step two: Protect your QB. In progress.

Step three: Add playmakers. Initializing.

The Raiders have their QB and are set to make some line protection changes in the offseason. Moving Austin Howard out to tackle and signing Rodney Hudson as well as blocking tight end Lee Smith are signs of building the offense from the inside out.

After missing out on Randall Cobb, it’s clear the best opportunity to add spark to the passing attack will come via the draft.

The Raiders should draft the player closest to being NFL-ready on the board. That player is Amari Cooper.

Cooper isn’t a prospect who just picked up momentum within the past year. He has maintained a steadily productive college career throughout. He doesn’t have any off-the-field or injury concerns. Finally, he doesn’t have any major weaknesses in his game.

You don’t want to miss with a fourth overall pick. The Alabama receiver is the safest first-round pick for Oakland and would also address the Raiders’ lack of playmakers on the perimeter.

Oakland should also entertain the thought of selecting 6’2”, 224-pound wide receiver Vince Mayle out of Washington State, pairing him with Cooper as incoming receivers.

As a starter in his senior year, Mayle’s numbers were comparable to Kevin White’s in a tougher Pac-12 conference.

Mayle doesn’t have the buzz White has leading into the draft, but he has the measurables and talent to be a late-round steal. He’s currently projected as a fifth-round pick.

Defensive End

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Oakland simply needs QB pressure to elevate the defense.

Signing Dan Williams and Curtis Lofton should help defend the run, but Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers still run the AFC West.

The Raiders cannot settle for just any defensive end or 3-4 linebacker tweener. They need someone who will keep opposing signal-callers' heads on a swivel. A player who has mastered the DE position on the college level, preferably in a 4-3 scheme.

Dante Fowler is a name that has been the topic of discussion post-scouting combine. However, he’s played only one year as a defensive lineman and the other two as a linebacker for Florida.

Would Fowler fit in what will likely become a 4-3 base defense under new head coach Jack Del Rio? Would McKenzie invest a top-five pick on a player who may not fit the defensive scheme? It remains to be seen.

It’s not a simple switch from a 3-4 LB to a 4-3 DE or vice versa at the professional level. A prime example is Quinton Coples. He was a prominent DE in his last two years at North Carolina. He was drafted by the New York Jets in 2012 and switched to a 3-4 LB. He has been mediocre since the transition.

Fowler is transitioning in the opposite direction, which offers more evidence that the two positions aren't always interchangeable.

Randy Gregory told The Associated Press (h/t NFL.com's Chase Goodbread) that he prefers playing as a 3-4 LB:

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I like standing up. It serves my body better, my physical traits better, being able to see the play form and stay in an athletic stance and make plays. At the same time, if a 4-3 team comes around, I feel I can help them and play that spot.

"

Forget about your assessment of Gregory. His preference is further proof that scheme fit does matter when transitioning between the two positions.

Buyer beware on Fowler as a more experienced 3-4 LB, when the Raiders desperately need a 4-3 pass-rusher.

Alvin Dupree played two years in each scheme and excelled at both playing for Kentucky. He’s projected as the third-best DE. However, as a senior he has more experience than both Gregory and Shane Ray—both ranked higher—as a DE.

Guard

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There’s no doubt McKenzie will move Howard back to tackle, opening a guard position to be filled.

Ali Marpet will likely be one of the best players not drafted in the first round.

According to Dane Brugler of CBSSports, he has a solid combination of agility, strength, durability and a high football IQ that makes him NFL-ready:

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Understands leverage and blocking angles. Enough flexibility in his joints and plays with hip snap at the point of attack. Sets up quickly with adequate quickness in his kickslide with balanced lateral movements and body control to get away with lean. Quick thinker with reflex adjustors to counter rush moves, showing the reaction time to cut off inside moves. Nice job on combo blocks to engage at the point, but uses his eyes to seek out his next victim. Comfortable in his own skin with a high football IQ and smarts off the field. 110-percenter with NFL toughness and play speed. Two-time team captain with several accolades at the D-III level.

Durable. Finished his career with 37 straight starts at left tackle. Strong work ethic with self-motivating habits and an unassuming personality.

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Brugler’s description is what you’d see from a top-10 pick in the draft. The fact that Marpet comes from Hobart College, a Division III school, makes scouts skeptical of his ability to translate that exceptional play to the professional level.

Thus far, his workouts have been impressive. He continues to flash great talent as a versatile offensive lineman.

He’s currently projected as a second- to third-round pick. If Marpet falls to the third round, he should be Oakland’s top priority.

Cornerback

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This is a “prove it” year for D.J. Hayden. Travis Carrie could be one the biggest steals from the 2014 draft.

Nevertheless, both cornerbacks have minimal experience as NFL starters. Hayden and Carrie have 14 combined starts, which should be a cause for concern leading up to the 2015 season.

McKenzie and Co. should learn from the Jets' 2014 season. Inexperience hurt New York’s secondary, and even a defensive mastermind like Rex Ryan failed to solve the problem. What makes matters worse for Oakland is the lack of solid pass-rushers on the roster.

Essentially, opposing QBs would face very little resistance from the Raiders defense, whether it’s up front or the secondary.

Tramon Williams would have been a decent fit, but he signed with the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders are already developing two CBs and would benefit from a strong veteran still capable of producing on the field.

Charles Tillman has enough to carry Oakland’s secondary through another year or two. Before his last two injury-plagued seasons in Chicago, he played at least 14 games for eight consecutive seasons.

He caught at least three interceptions in nine of his 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears. In a reduced role, Tillman is still capable of making plays in the secondary if he remains healthy.

Tight End

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Negotiations between the front office and Jermaine Gresham illustrate the Raiders' interest in upgrading the tight end position.

According to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, Gresham will undergo surgery on his back to repair a herniated disc. Gresham's back issue was likely a major reason for the Raiders backing off on a potential signing.

McKenzie is aiming for a more balanced TE who can catch and block adequately. Thus far, the Raiders have both types of TEs in two different players—Mychal Rivera being the receiving TE and Lee Smith as the H-back type.

According to Dane Brugler, Penn State TE Jesse James has the attributes the Raiders seek but needs to work on committing himself consistently:

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Underutilized with a diverse skill set to help any NFL team. Good enough speed to present a threat down the seam. Makes the tough catch in traffic without fear. Keeps his feet chopping on contact as a blocker and understands angles and cutback lanes well enough to move and be a second tight end or H-back. Flashes soft hands. Similar in build and skill set to Bills tight end Scott Chandler.

...

James is a well-rounded tight end who became a security blanket for the quarterback with his versatility as a slot receiver and inline tight end. He can effectively play on all three downs with many attributes that will be coveted by NFL evaluators. With his size and firm grasp of blocking principles, James has just one major lingering question - consistency.

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James is projected to be a third- to fourth-round pick. The fact that he’s able to play all three downs as a TE elevates his potential to immediately step in and contribute as rookie.

All draft projections and analysis provided by CBSSports.com.

Do you have your own suggestions for the Raiders' front office? You can address all of those concerns on Maurice's twitter account, where he jabbers about Raiders football and how there's still hope for Oakland.