Oakland Raiders: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

Oakland Raiders breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Oakland Raiders must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 12-4 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Raiders' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

Armed with a contract extension, head coach Jack Del Rio seeks to continue the ascent the Raiders experienced in 2016 before an injury to quarterback Derek Carr derailed the end of their season. Carr is back with an excellent receiving corps, but the ground game has to be addressed, especially if free agent Latavius Murray departs.

The defense was a disappointment, and that is where Del Rio will put most of his attention in the offseason.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 2nd in AFC West (12-4-0)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 373.3 (6th)

RUSHING: 120.1 (6th)

PASSING: 253.2 (13th)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 375.1 (26th)

RUSHING: 117.6 (23rd)

PASSING: 257.5 (24th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

*=Vet who may be released or option not exercised

TOP THREE NEEDS

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

The Raiders finished last in the NFL in sacks despite the presence of Khalil Mack because they had no interior push. They need a three-technique to press the pocket.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Kawann Short, Carolina (28, $1.16M)

Dontari Poe, Kansas City (27 in August, $2.83M)

Domata Peko, Cincinnati (33 in November, $4.5M)

Vince Wilfork, Houston (possibly retiring; 36 in November, $4.5M)

Nick Fairley, New Orleans (29, $3M)

Alan Branch, New England (33 in December, $2.15M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/2 Jonathan Allen, Alabama, 6-3, 291, 4.82, 1

2/22 Malik McDowell, Michigan State, 6-5, 276, 4.89, 1 (underclassman)

3/50 Caleb Brantley, Florida, 6-2, 297, 5.05, 2 (underclassman)

4/56 Carlos Watkins, Clemson, 6-4, 312, 5.06, 2

5/66 Chris Wormley, Michigan, 6-5, 297, 4.92, 2-3

6/71 Elijah Qualls, Washington, 6-1, 321, 5.37, 2-3 (underclassman)

CORNERBACK

Starters David Amerson and Sean Smith are both tall, long press corners. A smaller slot cornerback would help immensely.

UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)

A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)

Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)

Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)

Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)

Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)

Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville (28 in June, $5.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)

2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)

3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 4.53, 1-2

LINEBACKER

Malcolm Smith and Perry Riley Jr. are both free agents, and both struggle in pass coverage. The Raiders may need to fill two starting positions.

UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)

OLB:

Chandler Jones, Arizona (27, $2.04M)

Nick Perry, Green Bay (27 in April, $5.05M)

Melvin Ingram, L.A. Chargers (28 in April, $2.1M)

DeMarcus Ware, Denver (35 in July, $10M)

Julius Peppers, Green Bay (37, $8.67M)

ILB:

Dont'a Hightower, New England (27 in March, $1.93M)

Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh (31 in May, $9.6M)

Malcolm Smith, Oakland (28 in July, $3.5M)

Akeem Dent, Houston (30 in September, $2.25M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

OLB:

1/18 Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 230, 4.74, 1 (underclassman)

2/26 Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6-2, 258, 4.58, 1

3/27 Tim Williams, Alabama, 6-3, 252, 4.76, 1

4/31 Haason Reddick, Temple, 6-1, 237, 4.54, 1-2

5/48 T.J. Watt, Wisconsin, 6-4, 243, 4.76, 2 (underclassman)

ILB:

1/7 Reuben Foster, Alabama, 6-1, 236, 4.72, 1

2/41 Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, 6-2, 240, 4.78, 2 (underclassman)

3/44 Jarrad Davis, Florida, 6-1, 238, 4.78, 2

UFA KEEPERS

RB Latavius Murray (27, $567K)

TE Mychal Rivera (27 in September, $566K)

T Menelik Watson (29 in December, $ 1.2M)

LB Malcolm Smith (28 in July, $3.5M)

LB Perry Riley Jr. (29 in May, $760K)

ROSTER REVIEW

MAJOR COACHING CHANGES

--OC Todd Downing replaces Bill Musgrave.

--John Pagano named assistant head coach/defense.

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Derek Carr. Backups -- Matt McGloin (UFA), Connor Cook.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- Latavius Murray (UFA), FB Jamize Olawale. Backups -- Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Taiwan Jones.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- *Lee Smith. Backups -- Clive Walford, Mychal Rivera (UFA), *Gabe Holmes.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- SE Michael Crabtree, FL Amari Cooper. Backups -- Seth Roberts, Andre Holmes (UFA), Johnny Holton.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Donald Penn, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Rodney Hudson, RG Gabe Jackson, RT Menelik Watson (UFA). Backups -- RT Austin Howard, T/G Vadal Alexander, G Denver Kirkland, G/C Jon Feliciano.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- RE Khalil Mack, NT Dan Williams, DT Justin Ellis, LE Mario Edwards Jr. Backups -- E/T Jihad Ward, E/T Denico Autry, DT Darius Latham, DT Stacy McGee (UFA), E Branden Jackson.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Malcolm Smith (UFA), MLB Perry Riley Jr. (UFA), SLB Bruce Irvin. Backups -- MLB *Ben Heeney, OLB Tyrell Adams, OLB James Cowser, OLB Daren Bates (UFA), OLB Cory James, *OLB Neiron Ball, *OLB Shilique Calhoun.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB David Amerson, RCB Sean Smith, SS Karl Joseph, FS Reggie Nelson. Backups -- *Slot CB DJ Hayden (UFA), CB TJ Carrie, CB Dexter McDonald, CB Antonio Hamilton, S Nate Allen (UFA), S Brynden Trawick (UFA).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Sebastian Janikowski, P Marquette King, KOR/PR Jalen Richard, LS Jon Condo (UFA).