What condition Raiders position is in heading into 2019 training camp: Offensive guard

Starters: Richie Incognito, Gabe Jackson

Backups: Denzelle Good, Denver Kirkland, Lester Cotton Sr, Lukayus McNeil

The pair of Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson had been one of the best in the league. But after an injury caused Osemele to have a rough 2018 season, the Raiders thought he wasn’t worth his $10 contract and dumped him for a low round pick.

Initially it looked like Denzelle Good would be his replacement. The former Colt was claimed off waivers late last season and started three games. He showed well the final two of those starts, but making him the starter just like that would have been a risky situation.

Instead the Raiders added even more risk in the form of Richie Incognito. The 35-year-old has a long track record of behavioral problems that have led to multiple arrests and league suspensions including missing the entire 2014 season for bullying and accusations of racial slurs during his time with the Dolphins. He was out of football last season after a surprise retirement and is currently looking at the possibility of being suspended multiple games for several off field incidents over the past year.

Even with Gabe Jackson’s usual steady presence, there is the chance that he may not be a fit for Tom Cable’s downhill zone scheme. Most of the line had issues with it last season. That is more that fault of Cable’s coaching than any fault of Jackson’s, but it may not matter.

Kirkland is a fringe roster player and Cotton and McNeil are both undrafted rookies.

Condition: Serious

Not only did the team trade away Osemele, but they also let Jon Feliciano leave as a free agent. And they didn’t replace either one. It seemed like a logical plan to use one of their four picks in the top 35 picks on a guard, specifically with their three picks at 24, 27, and 35, but they instead went with a running back and two defensive backs. In fact, they didn’t draft an offensive lineman at all. It’s pretty strange looking at the seriously suspect condition of this position after being either solid or strong there the past few years.

Also see: QB I RB I WR I TE I OT