Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has shown how much he cares about being strong up front. Since 2014, some of McKenzie’s biggest free agent signings have been linemen. Most of those linemen have found great success with the Raiders, while a few haven’t panned out. There are some players available in the off-season that can help strengthen both the offensive and defensive lines.
Expect the Oakland Raiders to Strengthen Trenches in the Off-Season
Rick Wagner
The Raiders offensive line ascended into elite status after their strong 2016 campaign. The unit gave up an NFL-best 18 sacks all season. However, out of those 18 sacks, seven were given up by the right tackle, along with 15 penalties. In total, four different players lined up at right tackle. For most of the season it was Austin Howard and Menelik Watson that took the snaps at the position. Both of these players underperformed and it was clear all season that right tackle was the weak link of the Raiders dominant offensive line.
One player the Raiders might consider adding is current Baltimore Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner. This would make a lot of sense. McKenzie loves to add offensive linemen through free agency. Wagner could be the next lineman McKenzie has his eyes on. Since entering the league in 2013, Wagner has played in 62 games and started 47 of them. Due to the fact that he’s only 27 years old, and a good player, Rick Wagner seems like the type of player the Raiders would love to get.
Dontari Poe
Last season was definitely not something the Raiders defense wants to remember. The unit finished 26th in total defense, 24th in pass defense, and gave a whopping 5.1 yards allowed per rush attempt. Even with two studs like Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, the Raiders finished dead last in the league in sacks.
This is where a player like Dontari Poe comes in. Poe was a first round draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2012. With a 6’3 346 pound frame, and a lot of athletic ability, Poe is somebody that would immediately strengthen the interior of the defensive line. Poe’s ability to create an inside pass rush would help free up edge rushers like Mack and Irvin, making their jobs easier. Poe has 13.5 sacks in his career, which proves he knows how to get to the quarterback.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, the current defensive tackles just aren’t getting it done. It’s quite possible that a player like Poe slips through the cracks and is available for a team like the Raiders to pick up.
Kawann Short
Kawann Short is another quality defensive tackle that the Raiders should be interested in. Short was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2013. It might seem like the obvious move for the Panthers would be to re-sign their 27-year-old lineman, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Carolina’s general manager Dave Gettleman has somewhat of a reputation for being conservative with money.
Gettleman has already had the chance to re-sign Short but hasn’t done so. The Panthers have other free agents to consider besides Short. Not only that, but the Panthers even spent a first round pick on a defensive tackle in the 2016 NFL draft. Ultimately, the franchise tag could be used to keep Kawann Short on the team, but there’s a chance he won’t be a Panther next season.
Overall
The Raiders might end up not signing any of the players mentioned above, but it would be foolish to think that they don’t have their eyes on some players that might help strengthen their trenches. Reggie McKenzie loves his lineman, and it would be surprising if no lineman are added to the roster this off-season.
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