

Running back Matt Forte's days with the Chicago Bears are through, as he announced Thursday that the team won't attempt to re-sign him before free agency starts in a month. With that, Forte will be yet another big name on the market this offseason. He should also be another target for the cap-space-rich Oakland Raiders to pursue while they make a push to take the next step after a decent debut season under head coach Jack Del Rio.

It might seem weird to say that the Raiders will be in search of a running back after Latavius Murray made it to the Pro Bowl following his first season as a full-time starter, but that will almost certainly be the case once free agency picks up. Murray had a nice year with 1,066 yards and six touchdowns on 266 carries, but one of the weaknesses of the Oakland offense last season was the lack of a second option behind him.

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Most productive rushing teams in today's NFL don't rely on one back to shoulder the entire load. Instead, they employ (at least) a two-headed attack, often featuring running backs with different strengths. And even if the two backs are similar, splitting carries keeps them fresh.

The Raiders didn't have that luxury last season. After Murray, quarterback Derek Carr had the second-most carries on the team with 33. The next-highest total for a back was Jamize Olawale, who ran for 110 yards on 24 carries.

Meanwhile, Oakland added Roy Helu last offseason, in large part because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, something Murray still has to work on moving forward. But Helu ended up being a healthy scratch for seven games and caught just nine passes for 75 yards in the nine appearances he did make.

Enter Forte, who not only is the second-leading rusher in Bears franchise history behind Walter Payton but is also one of the best receiving running backs in the NFL. Although he caught just three more passes (44) than Murray did this past season, he hauled in 102 receptions for 808 yards and four touchdowns in 2014 while also running for 1,038 yards. Forte's best overall season came in 2013, when he ran for 1,339 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 74 passes for 594 yards and another three scores.

That would be a heck of a skillset to add along with a young, promising running back who could learn a thing or two from the veteran Forte.

Speaking of veteran, Forte will be playing his ninth season in 2016 and is considered ancient for an NFL running back at 30 years old. However, that's what makes Oakland a great fit. He won't have to take the same pounding as he has in previous years with Murray there with him, and he can immediately be a leader for an otherwise young offensive core.

According to Spotrac, Forte's market value is $7.4 million annually over a three-year span. In all likelihood, just one or two of those seasons would be guaranteed if he does in fact ink a similar deal. Additionally, CBS analyst and former sports agent Joel Corry estimated that Forte will cost less than that, more like $4-5 million per season.

While the Raiders will have roughly $70 million in cap space -- more than any team in the league -- they'll still be looking to spend responsibly this offseason. And considering the demand for Forte will be very high, general manager Reggie McKenzie might not want to get in a bidding war over a 30-year-old running back, especially with more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball.

At the same time, Forte could be worth overpaying to a certain degree. He would immediately improve the Raiders' offensive attack and potentially give Oakland a top one-two punch in the league.