Oakland Raiders: Top 10 Free Agents to Target

Coming off their best season since the Rich Gannon-to-Jerry Rice era, the Oakland Raiders will have an opportunity to contend for an AFC West division title in 2011.  No, that’s not a joke; they went undefeated against the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos last year.  Oakland has countless starters that will hit the open market this offseason though so after a solid draft, Al Davis and the Raiders are going to have to continue to fill holes through free agency if they want to continue to improve.

Some needs that have been taken care of all ready include the running back position with the selection of Taiwan Jones, center with Stephen Wisniewski and believe it or not, cornerback after drafting DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa.

Here are 10 free agents for the Raiders to target in free agency this offseason:

10. Tarvaris Jackson

The Raiders don’t have too many options if they were to lose Bruce Gradkowski to free agency.  Sure, there are plenty of backup quarterbacks out there, but there are very few out there as talented as the Polish Cannon.  Matt Hasselbeck would be the ideal option because he’d be ready to step in start if Jason Campbell were too play poorly, but there’s no way Hasselbeck settles for a backup role.

Tarvaris Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks on the open market that has no chance to win a starting job.  Right now, he’s their best bet.  Jackson recorded a passer rating of 95.4 in 2008 and 113.4 in 2009 as a backup for the Vikings.

He also has the strong arm and athleticism the Raiders love.

9. Brodney Pool

Michael Huff is mostly likey done in Oakland according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, and not just because he made Warren Sapp throw up in practice.  After putting together the best season of his career by far, a team like the Dallas Cowboys could break the bank to sign him with a huge need at safety.

Oakland may be able to replace Huff in house, but signing a safety is a possible option in-case they can’t or just want some more competition.  Brodney Pool won’t be an expensive signing with his concussion history and he’s physically talented enough to get another shot at a starting job.  Plus, a physically talented, hard-hitting safety is exactly the type of player the Raiders would look for.

8. Clint Session

With Thomas Howard headed to free agency, the Raiders could use a new weakside linebacker, even if Howard didn’t start in 2010.  Quentin Groves is solid, but the 265-pound former defensive end isn’t the greatest player in coverage and they already have a blitz specialist in Kamerion Wimbley on the other side.

Clint Session on the other hand is comfortable in coverage after playing in Indianapolis’ 4-3 defensive front for four years.  Session is fast and can hit hard, again, two things that are attractive the Oakland Raiders.

He recorded 103 tackles in 2009, but last season a broken right arm only allowed him to play five games.  At only 26 years old, Session could be part of the Raiders short and long-term future at outside linebacker.

7. Jared Gaither

The Raiders can’t just hand rookie Joseph Barksdale the starting job at right tackle from day one.  Their offensive line was their biggest need by far going into the offseason and it still is after the draft.

Gaither has had his share of injury problems in the past, but he’s worth the risk because if he pans out, the Raiders are set at right tackle for years to come.  Plus, if he is unable to play, they do have Barksdale to fall back on.

At 6’9”, 340 pounds, Gaither has the size Al Davis dreams about.  He didn’t play at all last season, but he says his back is feeling great.  With his injury history, Gaither wouldn’t cost the fortune he would if he was healthy.

6. Kevin Boss

The Raiders would love to re-sign Zach Miller, but if they fail to do so, all of a sudden they’ll be forced to find a new tight end.  Kevin Boss doesn’t have the speed or receiving skill-set that Miller has, but he’d bring a new element to Oakland’s offense with his size and blocking ability.  At 6’6’, 253 pounds, Boss is a lethal red zone target.

Just imagine him lining up next to Jared Gaither next season too; tallest tight end-tackle combination in league history.  The Raiders could use a possession target like Boss.  They have plenty of explosive weapons in Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey, but they’re all deep threats and not the best players to send over the middle with their size.

5. Manny Lawson

Manny Lawson is another option at outside linebacker and would be the Raiders first target of the two. 

Like Clint Session, he’s used to playing in a 4-3 defense, he’s young and he’s fast.  At 6’5”, 240 pounds, Lawson ran a 4.43 at the NFL Combine and recorded a vertical leap of 39.5 inches.  Anyone surprised he’s not an Oakland Raider already?

Lawson recorded 68 tackles in 2009 and 59 in 2010 also adding five forced fumbles.  He hasn’t put up the monster numbers he’s physically capable of, so again, he’s another player that Al Davis wouldn’t have to overpay to sign.

Adding Lawson would give the Raiders one of the best linebacker trios in the entire league.  On top of that, moving Quentin Groves into a situational role would improve their depth.

4. Steve Smith

The other Steve Smith isn’t your typical Oakland Raider.  He isn’t super fast or lightning quick, but he just happens to be the perfect fit for them at wide receiver. 

Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey are all explosive deep threats that average over 14 yards a reception.  None of them are going to ever catch 70 plus balls because they’re just not possession receivers.  

The Raiders need a number one wide out.  Smith isn’t necessarily a number one target, but unlike the rest of Oakland’s receivers, he can rack up the receptions; he caught 107 in 2009, but was injured in 2010.  While Muphy, Ford and Heyward-Bey run all the deep routes, Smith can do the dirty work underneath. 

I doubt the Raiders would target him, but they should target him.

3. Marshal Yanda

Marshal Yanda isn’t as talented, or big as Jared Gaither, but he’s the much safer option.  Yanda started at 16 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2010.  He can also slide over to guard which is also a huge need for the Raiders with Robert Gallery becoming a free agent.

Gallery is expected to be on his way out of town and Oakland didn’t add a guard in the draft so it’s an even bigger concern than tackle is.  Yanda is only 26 years old so not only would he be a long-term solution on the Raiders offensive line, he wouldn’t be crazy expensive because he’s only started one full year in the NFL.

If Darren McFadden blew up in 2010, just imagine how many yards he could gain next season if he had an offensive line without any holes on it in front of him.

2. Braylon Edwards

Now this receiver is the typical Oakland Raider.  Braylon Edwards is far more physically talented than Steve Smith at 6’3” with great speed and leaping ability.  Edwards may not have the sure hands that Smith boasts, but he’s a legit number one receiver.

Opposing defenses better have good safeties if the Raiders sign Edwards because they’d have four dangerous deep threats as their top four wide outs.  His best year came back in 2007 with the Browns when he caught 80 balls for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

His potential is obviously through the roof, but he may not be worth the risk for how much Oakland would be forced to pay him.  Dan Synder is expected to offer Edwards a ton and Al Davis may be better off just saving his money to attempt to re-sign Nnamdi Asomugha.  If Asomugha is out of the question though, Edwards may be the big name the Raiders target.

1. Harvey Dahl

The offensive line is the Raiders number one need so their number-one target this offseason should be Harvey Dahl.  At 6’5”, 315 pounds, Dahl has the size the Raiders love.  Plus, he’s known as one of the dirtiest players in the NFL.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not calling Oakland dirty, but the franchise does have that tough, nasty mentality that it still at least tries to carry on from the 70s.  And if there was one position on an entire team that should be encouraged to play dirty, it's definitely the offensive line.

Dahl surprisingly has never made a Pro Bowl, but he’s one of the best free agents in the entire 2011 class.  He would make Raiders fans forget about Robert Gallery instantly, if they haven’t forgotten already.

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.