Contenders: Alex Leatherwood, Brandon Parker and Thayer Munford<\/em><\/p>\nArguably the biggest surprise from the Raiders this offseason was that they didn’t address the right tackle spot until the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Munford took about 150 snaps at right tackle as a true freshman before moving over to the blind side for the next three years. He allowed just five sacks \u2014 all of which came in one year \u2014 on over 1,200 pass-blocking snaps holding down the edge at Ohio State, but he’s the third horse in the race this season. <\/p>\n
That leaves the two holdovers from a year ago, Leatherwood and Parker, who many thought wouldn’t be competing with each other for the second year in a row. <\/p>\n
Both guys were assets in pass protection as they combined to allow 72 pressure at right tackle in 2021. To their credit, they also showed glimmers of hope as run blockers, with Parker putting together two elite PFF run blocking grade performances and two outings in the 70s, and Leatherwood posted three games in the 70s. However, that’s still not exactly a ringing endorsement.<\/p>\n
Leatherwood’s position flexibility could also be a factor here as Las Vegas could run it back with him at guard and Parker at tackle, but that would start to feel like the definition of insanity.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Leatherwood wins<\/em><\/p>\nThe biggest thing Parker has had going for him is that he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. That’s how he got the job as a rookie and last season, and he was re-signed well into free agency after the market dried up this offseason. Leatherwood at least has youth and athleticism on his side to hope that he’ll eventually figure it out in pass protection.<\/p>\n
Wild Card: Jermaine Eluemunor<\/em><\/p>\nIn 2020, Eluemunor played six games and 271 snaps at right tackle for the Patriots and Josh McDaniels, and he allowed just five pressures and earned a 78.8 run blocking grade. He only lined up at guard for Jon Gruden but that could change this time around in camp.<\/p>\n
2) Interior Offensive Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/source><\/picture>\n
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John SimpsonAndre James<\/figcaption>Photo by Ethan Miller\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Contenders: John Simpson (LG, RG), Dylan Parham, (LG, C, RG), Andre James (C), Denzelle Good (RG, LG), Jermaine Eluemunor (RG, LG)<\/em><\/p>\nMcDaniels and Dave Ziegler kind of threw a wrench into the outlook of the Raiders’ offensive line by using their first pick of the draft on Parham. Many people, myself included, expected them to target a tackle to solve the issue above but instead, they took an interior offensive lineman who they’re having taking reps at center and both guard spots.<\/p>\n
The Memphis product did play three different positions in four seasons as a Tiger, never earning an overall PFF grade below 70, so versatility is one of his strengths. It would just be a matter of how quickly he can pick up center, which he took reps at during the Senior Bowl.<\/p>\n
That brings us to James, who started to find his grove during the second half of last season as PFF’s seventh-highest graded center (76.7) from Weeks 7 to 18. Because of that, his spot likely isn’t up for grabs like the two spots beside him are, per se, but that door does seem to be at least cracked if not open.<\/p>\n
Simpson returns in a similar situation as James, albeit not to quite the same extent. The former was able to steady the ship in pass protection, ranking 17th among guards with a 76.0 pass-blocking grade and just 14 pressures surrendered from Weeks 11 to 18. However, his run blocking was still a struggle with a 44.8 grade during that timeframe and a 45.9 mark throughout the year, creating an opportunity for someone else to step in.<\/p>\n
Good and Eluemunor are the wily veterans of the bunch and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them start at guard and the other serve as the sixth offensive lineman. However, Good needs to prove he’s healthy enough after tearing an ACL in Week 1 of last season while Eluemunor looks to shake off last season, where he was benched after four games.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Simpson (LG), James (C), Good (RG)<\/em><\/p>\nMcDaniels liked to run a lot of gap runs in New England and that system should help improve Simpson’s run blocking performance as he’s always been a better fit in that scheme. I think the Raiders have other problems to fix upfront before they start trying to upgrade from James, who showed tremendous growth in 2021, and Good’s status as a veteran should earn him the nod at least early on.<\/p>\n
Wild Card: Lester Cotton starts at guard<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nCotton has been with the organization for a while but has failed to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp three times, and it feels like he’s at a pivotal point in his career where it’s either going to happen or it isn’t t. Granted, he doesn’t need to become a starter for that to happen, but who knows, maybe a motivated offseason and a few dominos falling into place might make it happen. <\/p>\n