A year ago, the Raiders allowed left offensive tackle Jared Veldheer to walk away in free agency. He was a young, home-grown standout who had expressed a desire to stay in Oakland.
But when the Raiders were slow to negotiate with him, Veldheer eventually left for Arizona, where he had an outstanding season for the 11-5 Cardinals. In fact, he was selected the team’s Most Valuable Player after allowing just one sack and 25 quarterback pressures on 611 passing downs. That ratio of success was fifth best in the NFL this season.
The Raiders were able to bring in Donald Penn, who did a solid job at left tackle, but he’s older and not quite as good as Veldheer – who has a much higher upside at this point in his career.
Now, Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski is one of 11 unrestricted free agents on the Raiders roster, and should be No. 1 on their list to keep.
This past season, Wisniewski – a second-round pick in the 2011 draft – was a rock at center on a line in which players were shuffled in and out because of injuries. On a team with a young quarterback, the center-quarterback relationship between Derek Carr and Wisniewski was solid. Bringing him back should be a priority.
Wisniewski, however, isn’t certain what will happen. His uncle played for the Raiders and he’s been following them his whole life and would like to stay, yet he’s not certain if that interest is mutual.
“I’m a free agent, so I have some choices to make,” he told a reporter recently. “I love being here, but I think everything will work itself out. I think it might have been my last game as a Raider. Then again, maybe it’s not. We’ll have to see.”
