The Jets agreed in principle to a trade that will send Raiders Pro-Bowl guard Kelechi Osemele and a sixth-round pick to New York in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
Osemele helps upgrade the left side of the Jets offensive line, which was in desperate need of a makeover. James Carpenter’s season and Jets career ended prematurely due to injury, while Spencer Long did a mediocre job filling in.
For now, Mike Maccagnan has just bolstered the Jets offensive line without having to get into a bidding war, while only taking a 56-slot drop on Day 3 of the draft. It was a savvy move by the GM, one that will allow the Jets to focus elsewhere once free agency begins.
In the meantime, let’s get to know the newest member of the Jets offensive line.
2016 All-Pro
Kelechi Osemele was named a first-team All-Pro and selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2016.
Osemele was able to take his game to the next level after signing a five-year, $60 million deal with the Oakland Raiders. The deal paid off for Oakland, as Osemele helped bring an identity to one of the top offensive line units in the NFL.
Heading into the 2017 season, Osemele was ranked 95th on NFL Network’s Top 100 players list.
Super Bowl Standout
Osemele is a champion; he helped the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Osemele wasn’t just a bystander in that game. He registered the second-highest grade in a Super Bowl from an offensive lineman since 2006, according to Pro Football Focus.
His Name
Osemele is of Nigerian descent, but he grew up in Houston and played college football at Iowa State. His first name, Kelechi, translates to “Thank God” in the Igbo language.
The Jets are hoping that he can be the savior of their offensive line.
Contract Situation
Before Andrew Norwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason, Kelechi Osemele owned the most expensive contract of any left guard in the NFL.
Osemele signed a big contract with Oakland worth up to $60 million. He is now the second-highest paid guard in the NFL and his cap hit will be just north of $10 million in 2019. The 29-year-old will make $10.2 million and $11.7 million over the final two years of his contract, but the Jets can cut him with no dead money following this season.
Osemele has a lot to prove in 2019, but the contract that Oakland gave him proves that he can play at an elite level.
