The first thing McKenzie did was make moves in the secondary. Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff return as the starting safeties, but Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson were released. McKenzie needed starting cornerbacks so he signed Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer. The Raiders have plenty of young depth behind the new starters with Chimdi Chekwa, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Bryan McCann and the two ex-Packers Brandon Underwood and Pat Lee.
McKenzie also re-invested in the offensive line as four out of five starters will return. Stefen Wisniewski will shift to center. Cooper Carlisle will move to left guard after being released and re-signed. McKenzie might look for quality depth, but he also has two young players in Joseph Barksdale and Bruce Campbell on the bench.
The release of Kamerion Wimbley opened up the need for an outside linebacker. McKenzie is looking for a starter, but he isn't sure if he can find one in the draft or if he might have to dip his toe into the free agent market once more.
If McKenzie decides he can find the linebacker he needs in the draft it would be easy to assume he'd have to use his first selection to draft the player. The Raiders are expected to receive the highest possible compensatory selection which is the 95th overall pick in 2012.
Depth could be an issue for the Raiders and McKenzie should use what remaining picks he has to find players that can play special teams and depth that the coaching staff can develop. McKenzie might have his eye out for versatile players to slowly begin the transition to the 34 defense.
Third round (compen...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
