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Five Free Agents the Oakland Raiders Should NOT Target

By Matthew Lorscheider

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Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) is tackled by Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

2. DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray was the best running back in the NFL in 2014, rushing for more yards than any other back, earning his first All-Pro selection and his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth. He was the backbone of the Cowboys offense last season, and seems destined for a massive payday in 2015, either from the Cowboys – who will likely target Dez Bryant rather than Murray for a Franchise tag – or from somebody else in free agency. That somebody else should not be Oakland.

The Raiders already have a big, fast, powerful back named Murray: Latavius Murray, who in limited action averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored two of the teams’ four rushing touchdowns last season. While DeMarco is more accomplished than Latavius, he is also going to cost dramatically more money. And if history has taught anyone anything, it’s that running backs RARELY put together seasons like DeMarco’s 2014 campaign back to back.

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    • DeMarco won’t garner Ndamukong Suh money as a running back, but he could very well make money in the Adrian Peterson stratosphere, costing as much as $14M against the cap in 2015 with that number climbing toward $18M against the cap later in the deal. That’s simply way too much to pay for a running back, even one as good as DeMarco Murray.

    Latavius Murray, who appears set to be the feature back in 2015 and beyond, meanwhile, is entering year three of a four year deal that is set to pay him a grand total of $1.31M over the next two seasons COMBINED. A much more cost effective solution to the running back question, and this low figure allows the team to compliment him with a change-of-pace back in the middle of the free agency pack, or frees up cap money to make a big splash with pass-catchers like Randall Cobb and Julius Thomas.

    Next: Name to Avoid #3: Devin McCourty

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