NFL Draft 2011: Are the Oakland Raiders Targeting SEC QB?

By placing the highest possible tenders (first and third-round draft choices) on tight end Zach Miller and back-up running back Michael Bush, the Oakland Raiders continue their offseason spending spree and ensure continuity from last year’s 8-8 squad. The re-signing of Richard Seymour, Stanford Routt, John Henderson and franchising Kamerion Wimbley, will shore up some key personnel positions, but the Raiders had to break the bank to do it.  

Seymour’s two-year extension is worth 30 million and keeps the Pro Bowler in Oakland through 2012. Veteran run-stuffing tackle John Henderson—who missed seven games with injury—inked a two-year deal for $4 million. Outside linebacker Wimbley had nine sacks, and will collect $10 million as the Raiders’ “franchise” player. And Routt re-signed with the club for three years and $31.5 million.

I’m no financial wizard, but that’s a lot of cake and it appears the cupboard is bare for Nnamdi Asomugha. The top free agent in the league seems destined to move on from Oakland. As will be the case for O-lineman Robert Gallery, who met with owner Al Davis last week, and discovered his time was up with the Silver-N-Black. The second-overall pick in 2004 was asking for $8 million and the Raiders were offering $2.5 million.

Yet, it’s new coach Hue Jackson who’s feeling all the pressure. He brought the Raiders’ offense out of the Dark Ages and into respectability. Jackson also famously said he was building bully in Oakland and the team would win the AFC West. Honestly, I think Raider Nation would settle for Darrius Heyward-Bey becoming a competent deep-threat in 2011.

Still, Jackson can only be as good as his quarterback allows him to be. The sometimes beleaguered Campbell ran the gamete last season. He went from goat, to hero, to the bench—and then suddenly figured it out over the final month of the season.

Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders