February 17th, 2012 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
Football Outsiders is out and doing Division by Division looks at the salary cap and how it affects each team around the league.
To see about the entire AFC West – click HERE
Here’s the Raiders breakdown, and some of the background on how they think things will play out for the team.
Estimated Cap Space: $11 million over
Unrestricted Free Agents (16): Khalif Barnes, Darryl Blackstock, Kyle Boller, Tyvon Branch, Michael Bush, Jason Campbell, Rock Cartwright, Matt Giordano, Quentin Groves, Stephon Heyer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Jarvis Moss, Samson Satele, Chaz Schilens, Trevor Scott, Lito Sheppard
Restricted Free Agents (1): Desmond Bryant
Franchise Tag Candidate: Of the Raiders’ 16 unrestricted free agents, just three -– Samson Satele, Khalif Barnes and Tyvon Branch –- were full-time starters. Satele and Barnes are unlikely to be franchised, not with a price tag of around $9.5 million in 2012. The cost of franchising Branch is projected to be close to $6.2 million. Considering their cap situation, the Raiders are unlikely to use the franchise tag this year, but if they were to use it, it would almost undoubtedly be on Branch.
Potential Cap Casualties/Restructures: Where to begin? 33-year-old defensive tackle John Henderson is due $4 million in base salary that is guaranteed for skill and injury, but not for cap. Linebacker Aaron Curry played better in Oakland without the pressure of being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but is unlikely to be back at the $5.7575 million base salary he’s scheduled to make. Release or restructure candidates include veteran defensive tackle Tommie Kelly ($6 million) and right guard Cooper Carlisle ($3 million) and the Raiders could restructure the contracts of quarterback Carson Palmer ($12.5 million base salary, $5 million of which is guaranteed) and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, whose $11 million base salary will become fully guaranteed on March 17.
Tags: 
Keep Curry, cut Wimbley. Get some O-line and secondary help.
In Reggie we trust!
Go Silver and Black!
Did i metion that we need an OT and an OG to make this thing go. DMC was amazing last year DESPITE an O-line that only works on one side (when li’l Wiz is at center).
Is it football season yet?