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The Raiders have more cap space than Abe Lincoln after getting his head shaved. And yet two of their premier free agents are poised to get paid elsewhere.

It sends a bad message to the young players in the locker room, who may believe that the only way to get paid is to leave. Still, the thinking is that the Raiders don’t regard Veldheer as a top left tackle. One league source told PFT the Raiders believe he’s better suited to the right side.

As to defensive end Lamarr Houston (pictured), they can’t justify paying $7 million or more to a defensive end who is regarded more as a run-stuffer than a pass-rusher.

The Raiders will nevertheless have to spend somewhere. It apparently won’t be on Veldheer, who has been linked to the Cardinals, or Houston, who has been linked to the Bears.