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Just like DeMarcus Van Dyke, Joe Barksdale went from being a third round pick of the Raiders in 2011 to released from the Raiders in 2012.

Unlike DeMarcus Van Dyke, Joe Barksdale landed on another roster shortly after being released by the Raiders.

The St. Louis Rams claimed Barksdale yesterday just one day after the Raiders released the young O-lineman. Apparently St. Louis wasn’t the only interested party either. The New York Giants are reported to have put in a claim for Barksdale’s services as well.

Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen were none too impressed with the second year tackle. After playing in every game as a rookie Barksdale wasn’t even suiting up on Sundays during his sophomore effort.

You can certainly understand McKenzie’s desire to build his roster his way with players that fit the system Coach Allen is introducing. Still, it seems a little haphazard to be giving up on young talent so quickly. Whether or not guys like Barksdale and DVD ever become quality pros is irrelevant. All these moves do is to further exasperate the rebuilding process by creating more and more roster turnover.

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In case you didn’t get the memo, Reggie McKenzie is highly unimpressed with the last batch of talent Al Davis drafted into Silver and Black. Mark Davis and McKenzie were no doubt out to do things there own way. That’s more than understandable. What’s a little tough to digest is the continued purging of the Raiders’ 2011 draft class. I get that this might not have been the best collection of talent ever unearthed by Oakland’s scouting department. But since when did giving up on young talent this quickly only to replace it with practice squad scrubs become a better option?

Today McKenzie is reported to have cut ties with Joe Barksdale making him the third member of Al’s last class to be sent packing. Barksdale’s departure means two of the Raiders top three picks from 2011 are no longer with the team. DeMarcus Van Dyke was released before the start of the season and now Barksdale, picked just 11 spots after DVD, joins him in departure from the East Bay.

Chimdi Chekwa was also sent packing which would have made three of Oakland’s top four 2011 picks gone in just over a year but he was signed to the practice squad. However that’s a little like having your girl dump you only to have her invite you over to do her laundry while she makes out with her new dude.

There are five more members of the 2011 class still employed by McKenzie. Stefen Wisniewski and Denarius Moore have nothing to worry about. However Taiwan Jones, Richard Gordon and David Ausberry might want to heed the warning.

As you would expect, McKenzie jumped back into that Packers dumpster to find someone to take Barksdale’s roster spot.

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Khalif Barnes and the Oakland Raiders share a dysfunctional yet productive relationship. Barnes is going on his fourth year wearing silver and black on Sundays, each season returning for a one-year deal. It’s as if both sides are afraid of commitment yet can’t imagine life without each other.

In his first two years as a Raider, Barnes was pretty much a non-factor. A training camp injury robbed him of competing for a starting gig his first year. Once healthy in his second season the veteran tackle saw action in 16 games, featuring heavily in Tom Cable’s triple-tackle sets yet he started only three games.

Finally in 2011 it all came together for Barnes as the Raiders were reward for their cautionary faith. He started all 16 games at right tackle and was a big reason why Oakland’s line was among the best performing units in the NFL.

Barnes earned a starting job coming out of camp and he embraced the opportunity, never looking back thanks to a season filled with consistency. For his troubles Barnes was rewarded with yet another one-year contract and the chance to compete all over again in 2012.

Such is life in the NFL. Barnes is obviously not seen as a long-term solution and thus will be battling to prove himself to yet another new coaching staff. Second-year man Joe Barksdale could give Khalif a run for his money but the vet should have the inside track on retaining his right tackle job. At 30 Barnes is getting up in NFL years but he showed there’s still plenty in the tank. And he’s not so old that another one-year deal won’t be on the horizon with another solid showing.