The Oakland Raiders knew they needed to bolster the offensive line in 2019, and they did just that with some solid moves this offseason.
Last season, the Oakland Raiders struggled mightily up front along the offensive line, as they were ravaged by injuries and inconsistent play. With Donald Penn basically non-existent, the Raiders have to plug in rookies at both offensive tackle positions, and that led to Derek Carr running for his life for most of the season.
Kolton Miller was the team’s first round pick in 2018, and he was supposed to be a starter from Day One. With Penn hurt during the summer, Miller stepped in at left tackle, and did not concede the position once Penn was healthy.
When Penn was shut down due to injury in the regular season, the Raiders turned to another rookie, Brandon Parker, to start on the right side. Parker and Miller ended up struggling to get the job done in Year one, and while Miller was likely due to his injury, Parker just is not an NFL starter at this point.
Inside, Rodney Hudson did what he always does, as he continues to be arguably the best center in football. At offensive guard, both Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson missed time due to injury, and that led to the Raiders leaning on guys who were a downgrade in talent. When healthy, Jackson and Osemele were one of the better duos in football.
Looking ahead, Osemele is gone, and Parker definitely will not have a starting role in Year No. 2. The Raiders traded Osemele to the New York Jets, where he will now block for star running back Le’Veon Bell, who, like Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown, are finally out of Pittsburgh.
In Osemele’s place, the Raiders were looking for answers early in the offseason, but they may have found one in former Pro Bowler Richie Incognito. While Incognito has had more than his fair share of issues off the field during his time in the NFL, he is a tremendous guard when he is healthy, both physically and mentally, and the Raiders are hoping that is the player they get in 2019.
Replacing Parker at right tackle this season will be Trent Brown, who is fresh off a Super Bowl victory as a member of the New England Patriots last season. Brown played left tackle in New England, but he is an elite right tackle, and was one of the best in the game at the position before moving over to the other side.
As it stands, heading into training camp, the Raiders starting offensive line will consist of Miller and Brown at tackle, Jackson and Incognito at guard, and Hudson at center. When you look at this unit as a whole, they have the potential to be at least the best in the AFC West.
If the offensive line can stay healthy, and do their job, that will mean Carr can utilize all of the weapons the team brought in this offseason. Guys like Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams need time to let the play develop downfield, and Carr may actually have some time in the pocket this season.
The next step has to be getting Hudson under contract, as centers like him do not come around too often. This is a unit that should be much-improved over last season, and as is the case every year, this Raiders season is going to revolve around whether or not the offensive line can keep Carr upright.