Oakland Raiders: Free Agents The Team Should Make A Run At This Offseason
By Kevin Saito
Given the way contract negotiations with Donald Penn have been going – and with no word to the contrary, we have to assume that they aren’t going extremely well – the Raiders find themselves needing a big body on the left side of the line. But they also need one whose production was as rock solid as Penn’s has been the last two seasons.
It’s possible that 2013 draft pick Menelik Watson – who should be fully recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2015 season – as the natural successor to Penn on the line. He did show some signs of progress and improvement last year before his injury.
But another way McKenzie could go is to take a run at Ravens tackle Kelechi Osemele. At just 26 years old, he’s obviously a solid alternative to Penn age-wise. And he’s widely regarded as one of the better offensive tackles that will be on the open market.
If Penn is wanting in excess of ten million dollars a year – as has been rumored – it’s entirely feasible that McKenzie would rather try to earmark that money for a younger player like Osemele.
Osemele’s versatility might also make him a more attractive alternative to Penn. He was an a well above average guard with the Ravens and the Raiders actually find themselves in need of an upgrade at the right guard position, given the fact that the team has made no move to re-sign last year’s starter, J’Marcus Webb and second year player Jon Feliciano showed that he still needs some time and development at the position.
If McKenzie signs Osemele, he has some flexibility. If Watson returns and shows that he has indeed progressed, improved, and can man the left tackle spot, Osemele could slide into the right guard spot and that position would be upgraded. If Watson isn’t the answer at left tackle, Osemele played well ther and could hold down that spot, leaving the Raiders to figure out the right guard position.
Osemele would provide some depth, youth, experience, and more importantly, an upgrade on Oakland’s offensive line.
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