2018 Raiders free agency: Breno Giacomini to replace Marshall Newhouse
By Brad Weiss
The Oakland Raiders released Marshall Newhouse this offseason, clearing the way for the team to replace him at right tackle in 2018.
Last season, Marshall Newhouse served as the right tackle for the Oakland Raiders. However, the team released him this offseason, leaving a Newhouse-size hole at the right tackle position.
On Thursday, the Raiders pulled off a signing to help fill the void left by Newhouse when they signed Breno Giacomini. The big fella started all 16 games for the Houston Texans last season, and is very familiar with Raiders offensive line coach Tom Cable.
In fact, Giacomini won a Super Bowl with Cable in Seattle, so he is also no stranger to blocking for Marshawn Lynch. While not the big name Raiders fans were hoping the team would bring in, he is a serviceable right tackle, though he is coming off a pretty rough season in Houston.
At 6-foot-7, 320 pounds, Giacomini certainly has the size to be an effective tackle for the team next season. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers back when Reggie McKenzie was a personnel executive there, so his ties to the Raiders go deeper than just Tom Cable.
Giacomini struggled with pressures last season, which is something that is not going to fly in Oakland. The Raiders have a bunch of Pro Bowlers along the offensive line, and this is a team that needs to rebound off of their 6-10 campaign in 2018.
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Giacomini will certainly get the first crack to replace Newhouse this season, but the Raiders will likely look for a tackle during the 2018 NFL Draft. He has proven he can be an effective tackle, but the Raiders still need to get younger at the position in April.