What outstanding players do the Raiders have on their 2008 team?

When you ask any NFL fan to name players from his or her favorite team who could play for another team, the list usually has 15-20 names on it. But, when you ask a Raider fan to come up with their list, unless you include Punter Shane Lechler and place kicker Sebastian Janokowski, there’s a struggle to come up with 10 names, let alone 15.  What do the Raiders have?

So, here’s my list of Raiders who could play on other NFL teams…

In no particular order…and I have not included those who are on Injured Reserve…

#1        Namni Asomugha

#2        Thomas Howard

#3        Kirk Morrison

#4        Justin Fargas

#5        Zach Miller

#6        Gibril Wilson

#7        ?

And this is where I start “reaching.” These are players, currently on the Raiders, that, if they were released, would be signed right away by another team. I’m not talking about signings to replace injured players…I’m talking about players desired by other teams.

Think about other teams and now, think about the Raiders. I’m pretty sure you’re “reaching” at about #5 or #6 like I am.

Now, Raider players like Jamarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Derrick Burgess have not played enough in 2008 to get a really good gauge on them. Some, like the injured Burgess, have a history of being very good players…but, “what have you done for me lately?” The others are in their first year or so and haven’t played enough to have a fair evaluation of their talents.  

What does this exercise prove?

It proves that the Raiders are in need of a true Talent Evaluator. Someone who scouts and evaluates possible draft picks…free agents, waiver wire players and whether player “x” has proven himself enough to stay on the team. This could be in the form of a General Manager, a Player Personnel leader, or, as I said…a Talent Evaluator.

As much as I like Al Davis, I just do not think he can do or should be doing as much talent evaluation as he does. The process has changed with video, computers and all the stats from the combines, that someone, with the knowledge of what these technologies tell you about a player, should be the person who evaluates the talent. And with all the money that the players are paid, as well as the salary cap, you can’t just sign a castoff as easily as the Raiders could in the past. Pulling someone from the scrap-heap just doesn’t happen the way it did in the 70s & 80s.

A Talent Evaluator could figure out what the Raiders have and keep the proven talent, draft for the team’s needs and sure-up any holes not covered with effective free-agent signings.

Once the players are in place, then the Raiders need a head coach and coaching staff that can meld these talented athletes into a winning juggernaut that will, once again, rule the AFC and the NFL like during their heyday.

This is what the Raiders could have…this is what the Raiders need.