Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) looks on against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is the headliner of the 2015 free agent class. A dominant defensive tackle ever since he entered the league, Suh in many ways fits the profile of an Al Davis free agent signing: big name, bad attitude, and will probably want big money. Of course, Reggie McKenzie is no Al Davis, nor should he be. That said, Suh is not a risky signing by any means. The gifted Suh has been one of the five best defensive players in the league since he entered the league in 2010, a menacing physical presence who can both rush the passer and stop the run. While he has been well-behaved this year, his career has been marked by a certain mean, dirty edge to his game, reminiscent of Lyle Alzado. He’s the type of player who can intimidate any opponent, and who can alter the course of a football game.
The Viking Age
Suh is costing the Detroit Lions over $22 million against the cap this year, and it is likely any contract he signs on the open market will not involve a pay cut, especially not if that contract is to play for the Raiders. He’s likely to get a deal that involves $30M + in guarantees and $100M in overall compensation over a five or six year span. Some speculation has him landing in New York, either with the Giants or Jets, where he can capitalize further on the brand he has developed for himself already over five seasons in Detroit. But if he were to land in Oakland, he would immediately upgrade the entire defensive unit: he will command double teams in the run game, giving the interior linebackers more space to attack the runners; he would also require a lot of attention as a pass rusher.
Combined with Khalil Mack and the threat of the blitz from Sio Moore, he would make the Oakland defense incredibly hard to pass protect against. He would also bring a certain “nasty” with him, evoking the old-school era of Raider football where defensive players didn’t just play football, they engaged in psychological warfare.
As exciting and fun as it would be to see Nasty Ndamukong Suh line up in Silver and Black, this scenario is not very likely. Reggie McKenzie is from a different school of thought, one where franchise players are brought in through the draft, and free agency is used to add nice pieces, not centerpieces. Suh would command centerpiece money, money that the Raiders will likely need in a few years to re-sign Khalil Mack and Sio Moore. Suh also probably wouldn’t be interested in playing in Oakland (Los Angeles though? Different story.) and there’s no chance he’d come cheaply. Also, a team that is still trying to shake the “most penalized” stigma adding a player trying to shake the “dirtiest player” stigma seems like a bad deal for both.