Raiders to release Tyvon Branch

Branch, a fourth-round pick out of Connecticut in 2008, was given the franchise tag in 2012, in Reggie McKenzie's first year as the team's general manager. That summer, Branch signed a four-year deal worth $26.6 million, with $17.6 million in guaranteed money.

However, injuries curtailed Branch's production. He finished all three seasons since signing the extension injured. He was relegated to a total of five games the past two seasons due to injury. Branch, 28, was put on injured reserve in September after breaking his foot in Week 3 at New England.

On Feb. 18, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, McKenzie hinted Branch's time with the franchise could be coming to an end because of his injury history.

"That's going to be a situation we're going to have to monitor, because the injury situation has been an issue the last couple of years," McKenzie said. "We're going to have to talk that through some more. After we get back from the combine. I'll talk to his agent while we're here, and we'll try and see where his head's at, how he feels physically and try to figure that out."

Branch had a $1 million roster bonus due next month and a base salary of $5.5 million. His salary-cap number for 2015 was $9.657 million. Branch's release should give Oakland a cap break of about $3 million. According to ESPN resources, Oakland had more than $53 million in cap space as of Thursday in preparation for free agency, which starts March 10. Oakland now should have the second-most cap room in the NFL behind Jacksonville.

Other veterans who could be salary-cap causalities include quarterback Matt Schaub, defensive end LaMarr Woodley and running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Oakland is thin at safety behind 38-year-old Charles Woodson. It will be an area of concentration in free agency and in the draft.