Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

A year ago I told you the Raiders and Khalif Barnes couldn’t quit each other. Every offseason since Barnes arrived in Oakland four years ago goes the same way.

First Barnes’ one-year deal expires. Then the team offers him a new one-year deal.

So in keeping with that tradition the Raiders and Barnes once again did their annual offseason dance yesterday.  To the surprise of none Barnes will be back in Silver and Black so feel free to keep those #69 jerseys handy. The signing also marks the first Raider to re-sign with the team during an offseason filled with nothing but defections.

Barnes was highly effective (and penalized) during his lone full season as a fulltime starter in Oakland two years ago. Last season he (and the entire O-line) was highly ineffective in the ill-fitting zone blocking scheme. Of course Barnes was also bit by the injury bug so 2012 was a wash either way.

In 2013 Barnes will be back in the power scheme he and the Oakland offense thrived in. So hopefully the production will return to an offense that was stuck in neutral all of last season.

But no matter what you can set your watch to Barnes returning to the Raiders again a year from now. It’s tradition after all.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

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.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The good news for Joe Barksdale is that he got to play in all 16 games as a rookie. Bouncing between guard and tackle Barksdale collected his fare share of reps after the Raiders took the former LSU Tiger in the third round of the 2011 draft.

The bad news for Barksdale is that he might not see as much action during his sophomore campaign. At not at guard he won’t. Depending on how things shake out Barksdale is either going to be groomed as a full-time tackle where he could compete with Khalif Barnes for the starting gig opposite Jared Veldheer. Or Barksdale will be mired in the shuffle at the guard position.

With Stefen Wisniewski taking over at center it appeared as if an opportunity appeared for Barksdale. That was until the Raiders inked Mike Brisiel, re-signed Cooper Carlisle and then proceeded to draft Tony Bergstrom who is slated to make the conversion from college tackle to NFL guard.

So, where does that leave Barksdale?

Well, if this whole offensive lineman thing doesn’t work out he could always revert to his high school days as a defensive lineman. At 6’4”/325 Barksdale is built like a true nose tackle, a position Dennis Allen is trying to fill with Tommy Kelly. Beyond football Barksdale is also a solid writer as indicated by the musings on his blog.  But it’s way too early to start talking about life after the game.

For now Barksdale figures to be right in the middle of some heated camp battles that will reveal how far he’s come in one year of pro ball. His play was mixed as a rookie, looking very confident and comfortable in some instances and then uncomfortable and over-matched in others. His natural position is tackle and that is likely his best bet to see the most field time in 2012…that is if he makes the 53-man. Can’t imagine the Raiders moving on from him this early in his career but as we know McKenzie is building his team and Barksdale wasn’t one of his picks.