With free agency about six weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ offensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Starters: Kolton Miller, Trent Brown
Backups: Brandon Parker, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Kamaal Seymour
Free agents: Sam Young
Kolton Miller continued his solid play in his third season at left tackle, so no issues there. After that, however, it gets shaky.
Right tackle Trent Brown missed most of the season with various issues. First, it was a calf injury, then it was contracting COVID-19 and then it was complications from having had COVID along with an IV mishap. All told, he would start just five games. Combined with the 11 he started in his first season and he has missed the equivalent of an entire season. All while earning some $36 million.
Veteran Sam Young won the swing tackle job and the Raiders traded away David Sharpe in favor of Brandon Parker. Young would get injured nearly every time he stepped on the field, leading to Parker seeing extended playing time. He was serviceable, which is a big step up for him from previous years. But it might be a stretch to consider him a viable candidate to start.
Condition: Unstable
Brown is set to make $14 million this season with no dead money if released. And the Raiders will be looking for cap relief. Making him a candidate for being released. Should they keep him on, he’s got to prove he can stay on the field. If they don’t keep him, the need here becomes critical.
