Former Raiders RT Austin Howard released by Ravens after just one season

In 2014, when the Raider signed Austin Howard to a 5-year, $30 million deal, it was the biggest contract Reggie McKenzie had handed out as GM. They were rumored to have accidentally had a prorated signing bonus in it which made it difficult to move on from Howard without leaving a lot of dead money.

After three years, the amount of dead money finally dipped below his cap savings and his was summarily released.

Once released, the Ravens didn’t waste any time signing him to a 3-year, $15 million deal. Now a year later, and Baltimore has decided not to pick up the option in that contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, cutting the starting right tackle loose again.

As Rapoport notes, Howard could find a team again fairly easily based on the need at the tackle position.

Since the Raiders let go of Howard, they haven’t exactly found their long term answer either. They replaced him with Marshall Newhouse who they released Monday. Newhouse wasn’t an upgrade from Howard, but he was considerably cheaper.

Now the Raiders and Howard are both back to where they were this time last year.

So, that begs the question...