Earlier this offseason, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport speculated that starting guard Gabe Jackson could be on the trading block. Jackson has missed time in each of the last three seasons and hasn’t quite lived up to the contract extension that he received in 2017. That is why the selection of Clemson offensive guard John Simpson was such a curious one in April.
Much like Jackson, Simpson is a road-grader that fits in perfectly in Jon Gruden’s scheme. But could Simpson potentially take over for Jackson sooner rather than later?
In a recent piece by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, he called Simpson one of the biggest steals in the drafts as he is a “ready-made interior blocker.” Take a look at some more of Sobleski’s thoughts on the new offensive guard for the Raiders:
Like (Gabe) Jackson, the 321-pound rookie blocker excels at the point of attack. The two-year collegiate starter may not be the most nimble interior lineman, but he’s more than capable of executing simple zone steps and getting to the second level.
While it seems unlikely that Simpson will beat out Jackson this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he saw the field early considering the injury history to both Richie Incognito and Jackson. It’s also worth noting that there is no guaranteed money left on Jackson’s deal, which could make it easy for the Raiders to move on from him.
It does feel somewhat inevitable that the Raiders will trade or release Jackson in favor of Simpson. However, when that day comes is anyone’s guess. As for the 2020 season, expect Simpson to be one of the team’s primary backups and to get a few starts throughout the year.
