Oakland Raiders: Donald Penn’s return could solidify 2019 roster spot

The Oakland Raiders activated Donald Penn from injured reserve, which allows him the opportunity to show his ability to line up at right tackle.

Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Donald Penn has gone through a rough year. It started with rehabbing a foot injury. He also called head coach Jon Gruden about the decision to draft Kolton Miller at No. 15 overall; the team used the No. 65 selection to acquire Brandon Parker.

“I’m not going to lie, as soon as I saw the draft pick, I called Gruden immediately. Like ‘man, what the (expletive),” Penn said on the I AM Rapaport podcast with Michael Rapaport.

The additions meant Penn’s time with the team would soon come to an end and potentially right away. While he recovered from Lisfranc surgery, the Raiders prepared Miller to take over at left tackle. The rookie almost exclusively lined up on quarterback Derek Carr’s blind side during the offseason program.

Before the Raiders activated Penn off of the physically unable to perform list, he agreed to a restructured deal, which resulted in more cap flexibility for the team and added guaranteed cash for him on the remaining two years of his contract.

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Once Penn stepped on the practice field, he moved to right tackle—a fairly new position for him—but the 35-year-old accepted the new role as a team player. “I’m not going to play much longer. I want to win,” he said, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

The three-time Pro Bowler went through some mental lapses in his transition after starting 170 games at left tackle. Four weeks into the season, he landed on injured reserve with a groin injury. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 12th-year veteran allowed nine pressures, four hurries, three sacks and two quarterback hits in action.

In his absence, the Raiders turned to Ian Silberman, T.J. Clemmings and, for the most part, Parker to fill in on the right side. The rookie third-rounder has allowed 22 hurries, nine sacks and three quarterback hits in 526 snaps, per PFF. To say the least, pass-rushers are pushing through a turnstile on Carr’s strong side.

Despite Penn’s early-season missteps, he could actually become an upgrade if he’s able to take the field in the final quarter of the year. It’s a lost season for the Raiders, but the coaching staff would probably prefer their quarterback to finish the term in one piece. Carr has already been sacked 38 times—the most in his career.

If Penn shows a little bit of progress at his new spot, he becomes a solid keeper for the 2019 campaign. Similar to the veteran, Parker is primarily a left tackle. He started three years in the same position at North Carolina A&T.

At an FCS program, Parker didn’t play against top-notch FBS competition throughout his collegiate career. His transition from left to right will likely go through rough patches for an extended period. It would serve him well to learn from Penn, who’s going through the same learning process.

Depending on what Penn shows the Raiders, he could potentially start for another year before Parker takes a second shot at locking down the job. On the flip side, the Raiders can release him and save $5.5 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.

For Penn, it boils down to roster value going into his age-36 season. With Miller entrenched as the starter at left tackle, the veteran needs a strong showing on the right to extend his tenure with the Silver and Black.