Oakland Raiders pending free agents to bring back in 2019

Jon Feliciano

Versatility is everything in the NFL. From the box safety to a flex receiver. In this case, Jon Feliciano is a swing lineman. He can play both guard positions as well as center. That alone makes him a great commodity because he adds depth. The best part of all is that he’s actually good at his positions. Every season that he’s had to fill in he’s done a solid job. This season is a great example of it when he filled for the injured Kelechi Osemele.

Feliciano is a brute. A real old school Raider, so his run blocking is stellar. His pass protection is questionable, but he’s more than sufficient for a backup lineman. With Feliciano on board, there’s almost no concern when either Gabe Jackson or Osemele are missing in action.

Feliciano’s market will be interesting. He’ll certainly have offers, but I feel that his heart is with this team and Derek Carr. He’s always been on Carr’s hip to back him up or defend him when his name gets slandered by the media. Things, of course, can still change once a player hits that open market. It would behoove the Raiders and Jon Gruden to retain Jon Feliciano’s services. It’s for the same reasons as to why they need to retain Jared Cook. He’s already embedded in this system. He’s used to the offensive line and with his quarterback.

Familiarity, once again, is key for Derek Carr. Everything in this offseason should be to get Derek some help. Keeping Feliciano makes it easier by maintaining a core offensive line group. Whether Gruden wants him back may be a different story.