Oakland Raiders: Signing a veteran right tackle is a must
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has taken a beating this year. The front office should consider signing a proven right tackle in the offseason.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been sacked 35 times—the most in his career—with five games left on the schedule.
Optimists will give Kolton Miller the benefit of the doubt because he dealt with multiple knee injuries between October and November. At North Carolina A&T, Brandon Parker started at left tackle for three years, and he’s learning a new position on the right side, leaving room for growth.
Regardless of the qualifiers, the Raiders’ rookie offensive tackles have allowed a combined 18 sacks, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Miller and Parker could improve in their sophomore years, but Oakland should acquire proven talent as an insurance policy in case development doesn’t pan out as planned.
After four games, offensive tackle Donald Penn landed on injured reserve with a leg injury. This season, he struggled in his transition from left to right, giving up three sacks in a short period, per PFF.
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The Raiders have rookies and experiments in critical positions responsible for protecting Carr. It’s a risky reconstruction of the front line with their franchise signal-caller picking up a new offense for the fourth time in his five-year career. According to Football Outsiders, Oakland’s pass protection ranks 27th in the league.
Because of Penn’s minimal exposure at right tackle in live action, he’s not an ideal starter or backup insurance on that side of the line. In April, he’ll turn 36 years old going into the final year of his contract. The three-time Pro Bowler has been placed on injured reserve with a significant ailment in each of the last two seasons.
Penn is better suited to play second-string to Miller on the blind side. At the least, the 12th-year veteran can immediately step in if the UCLA product sustains an injury. It avoids the need to trot him on to the field while hurt, putting Carr in jeopardy.
Among the reserve offensive tackles, David Sharpe, Justin Murray and Ian Silberman have appeared in 15 combined regular-season games. Of the three, only Sharpe remains on the payroll beyond this year.
Without solid protection on the perimeter, Carr will struggle to stretch the field. In an offense predicated on completing passes—even if it involves continuously taking the check-down option, limited time in the pocket doesn’t allow routes to develop downfield. As a result, defensive coordinators won’t have to stay up all night devising a plan to stop a non-dynamic offensive attack.
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The Raiders will be flushed with cash in the offseason, projecting at approximately $79.2 million, per Spotrac. Oakland should consider Ja’Wuan James, Bobby Massie and Daryl Williams to take over at right tackle if the confidence in Parker’s transition wanes at the end of the year. Byron Bell and John Wetzel would serve as ideal backup options, who can play every position on the offensive line except center.