/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63086121/usa_today_11415289.0.jpg)
Starters: Kelechi Osemele, Gabe Jackson
Backups: Denver Kirkland
Free agents: Jon Feliciano, Denzelle Good, Chaz Green
Since 2016, the pair of Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson have been one of the best in the league. Though zone blocking has not allowed them to be at their best the past two seasons and injuries have taken their toll as well.
Jackson struggled through injuries throughout the 2017 season and landed on IR late last season. Osemele had his worst season as a Raider last year due in large part to a nagging knee injury that would cost him five games.
Really, the only issue here could be the coaching. Tom Cable has a terrible track record and somehow the injuries his linemen suffer every year always seems to make for a convenient excuse rather than an all too common occurrence.
Feliciano as a worthy backup, and he too was lost to injury, causing the team to dig deep and sign a couple street free agents in Denzelle Good and Chaz Green. Green would last four games before also being lost to injury, while Good proved to a pretty good find once he had acclimated to the rest of the line.
Condition: Stable
This position is basically as stable as the Raiders want it to be. Osemele is expensive, but worth the money. If the Raiders disagree and cut him — which they could do with minimal dead money — they would create an issue they didn’t have before. An option would be to re-sign Jon Feliciano instead of letting him hit free agency. He has been serviceable as a replacement, though we’d have to see more before placing judgment on his long term prospects. Either way, one (or both) of them is gone and will need to be replaced. Bringing back Denzelle Good would be a smart move as well.
Poll
What condition do you think the Raiders’ guard position is in headed into free agency?
This poll is closed
-
23%
Strong
-
60%
Stable
-
12%
Unstable
-
2%
Serious
-
1%
Critical
Loading comments...