The Raiders had roughly $65 million in salary-cap space heading into the 2014 offseason. It was billed as the start of “reconstruction,” when the Raiders were fiscally sound with the cap and ready to start a long-awaited return to relevance.
There were roster holes aplenty, and general manager Reggie McKenzie had to cast a wide net to restock a roster that, at the time, didn’t have a young foundation.
He did so by signing 15 veteran unrestricted free agents and trading for $8 million quarterback Matt Schaub. Just four members of that group returned from the 2013 squad; safety Charles Woodson was the only major contributor within it.
Fast forward a year. Only five are left. The latest casualties are receiver James Jones, who was informed of his release on Sunday night, and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe, a release that broke Monday afternoon.
There were a few themes to the 16 from 2014. Many were 29 or older, on the downside of their prime. Several of them had Super Bowl rings. And most were signed to shorter-term, team-friendly deals with significant up-front money. The Raiders burned through salary-cap space that way, but left themselves an out in almost every contract. Most deals carried no dead money after the first year.
Last year’s strategy helped an offseason purge which exorcised that group en masse. The team cut six players from that group, didn’t re-sign four more and had running back Maurice Jones-Drew retire.
None of those moves hurt the Raiders’ salary-cap standing.
Only defensive end Justin Tuck, offensive linemen Austin Howard and Donald Penn, defensive lineman C.J. Wilson and Woodson remain.
Between Woodson, Penn and Tuck, enough sage leadership remains that the departed won’t be missed much.
Last year’s free-agent spin was simple. The free-agent class was generally old, but its championship pedigree would teach this lost franchise how to win.
That didn’t happen. The Raiders started 0-10 and finished 3-13, without contributions from many.
Defensive end LaMarr Woodley had one tackle in five games before getting hurt. Schaub was a backup all season. Jones-Drew was ineffective with 2.2 yards per carry and eventually phased out. Cornerback Carlos Rogers got hurt early and didn’t return. Boothe hardly played offensive snaps.
Jones was solid at times, but had a career-low 9.1 yards per reception. Antonio Smith was a productive interior pass rusher, but even he got cut this offseason. Cornerback Tarell Brown was a consistent starter, but remains a free agent while recovering from foot surgery.
The Raiders clearly want to get younger, through the draft and 2015 free-agent decisions. Can’t blame them for that, especially after last year’s disappointment.
Hindsight provides perfect vision but, if the Raiders were going to suffer as they did a year ago, this youth movement should’ve started last season. Outside of a select few, the 2014 imports didn’t help this team step forward. It was a failed experiment that only served as a stopgap while the team continued to build through the draft.
Here’s a look at the 2014 free agent class, and what’s happened to each player:
Still under contract
DE Justin Tuck
LT Donald Penn
RT Austin Howard
Re-signed with Raiders
S Charles Woodson
DL C.J. Wilson
Released
QB Matt Schaub* (signed with Ravens)
S Usama Young
WR James Jones
DT Antonio Smith (signed with Broncos)
DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley (signed with Cardinals)
G/C Kevin Boothe
Not re-signed
RB Darren McFadden (signed with Cowboys)
CB Carlos Rogers
CB Tarell Brown
DT Pat Sims (signed with Bengals)
Retired
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
*Schaub was acquired in trade.
