Re-signed: DE C.J. Wilson, S Charles Woodson
Veteran additions: QB Christian Ponder, ILB Curtis Lofton, DT Dan Williams, CB James Dockery, TE Lee Smith, OLB Malcolm Smith, WR Michael Crabtree, S Nate Allen, C Rodney Hudson, RB Roy Helu, RB Trent Richardson, OT J'Marcus Webb
Veteran subtractions: CB Carlos Rogers, CB Chimdi Chekwa, RB Darren McFadden, TE David Ausberry, WR Denarius Moore, RB Kory Sheets, LB LaMarr Woodley, QB Matt Schaub, DT Pat Sims, C Stefen Wisniewski, CB Tarell Brown, S Tyvon Branch, WR Vincent Brown, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, DE Antonio Smith, WR James Jones, LB Miles Burris, LB Bojay Filimoeatu, G Kevin Boothe
Draft picks: 1-Amari Cooper (WR), 2-Mario Edwards Jr. (DE), 3-Clive Walford (TE), 4-Jon Feliciano (G), 5a-Ben Heeney (LB), 5b-Neiron Ball (LB), 6-Max Valles (LB), 7a-Anthony Morris (OT), 7b-Andre Debose (WR), 7c-Dexter McDonald (DB)
Analysis: The Raiders were big spenders in free agency, as was Jacksonville, but Yates drew an important distinction between these rebuilding teams.
"The difference with them and Jacksonville is, the players Oakland got were just OK," Yates said. "Curtis Lofton is a fine player. Dan Williams is a fine player, but he is a two-down player. I liked their draft a lot. Amari Cooper is the kind of high-floor, high-ceiling player you need. As for the new coaching staff, what is the draw in Jack Del Rio that I'm missing?"
Every team gets younger through the draft. Riddick liked the youth infusion Oakland added through free agency, swapping out aging veterans such as Woodley and Antonio Smith. He thought Allen, signed from Philadelphia, would pair well with a veteran such as Woodson in the secondary.
"I liked them getting younger and liked their free-agent moves even though they overpaid for Rodney Hudson as an upgrade," Riddick said. "They got an A-minus from me after we beat them down last offseason."
Polian thought the moves Oakland made could pay off in the second half of the 2015 season, once there's a little time to gain some continuity.