Oakland Raiders To-Do List: Looking Ahead to 2008

The Oakland Raiders’ first priority this offseason has to be keeping their young core players.

Justin Fargas and Nnamdi Asomugha can both test the free agent market this year if they so choose. The Raiders already have a large chunk of money tied up in JaMarcus Russell, and will likely hit Asomugha with the franchise tag.

Under those circumstances, Asomugha would get paid roughly $10 million next year if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal.

Tying up the suddenly surging Fargas is likely to cost a pretty penny too.

Item No. 2 on the agenda should be cutting dead weight like LaMont Jordan—and possibly even Dominic Rhodes, as Michael Bush will be at full strength next season.

Getting rid of Jordan and Rhodes could free up enough money to keep Fargas in the fold.

Warren Sapp is another expendable vet. Some people will disagree with that statement—but the Raiders are one of the worst teams in the NFL against the run, and moving Sapp could open the door for a big-name free agent.

Albert Haynesworth, for one, will be available this offseason, and we all know how valuable he is to a defense. Just ask the Titans, who slipped out of playoff contention while Haynesworth was nursing an injury.

And then, of course, there’s the offensive line. The big boys are playing well right now, but could use some depth.

It’s also imperative that the Raiders do better in the draft. We can’t afford to cut another third-round selection, as we did this year with Quentin Moses.

The Raiders are likely to land a top-10 pick, and need a guy who can contribute right away. If a Haynesworth deal doesn’t pan out, LSU’s Glenn Dorsey would be the smartest choice. Howie Long’s son may also be available to help the D-line, and the team is likely to look for fresh blood on the O-line and at receiver as well.

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