With the addition of guard Kelechi Osemele, the Raiders’ offensive line appears to be set – except for one position.
The starting job at right tackle will be up for grabs in training camp, with Menelik Watson set to battle Austin Howard. Watson had earned the starting job last summer, but then was lost for the season to a ruptured Achilles’ tendon before Game 1. Howard then took over and did a fine job until Game 14, when he had a knee injury that knocked him out of the final two games.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio this week said he expects both to be healthy by summer training camp.
Watson, a second-round pick out of Florida State in 2013, has played in 17 games with 12 starts. He was starting to play to his potential when he was injured. Howard, who played right guard for the Raiders in 2014 and right tackle in 2015, has been in the league since signing with the Eagles out of Northern Iowa in 2010. He was a full-time starter for the Jets in 2012 and 2013 at right tackle before coming to Oakland.
“When the (offseason) program begins, we know that Austin will not begin, but I think Menelik has a chance to be there,” Del Rio told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. “Austin’s a little bit behind (because) his injury occurred a little bit later in the year.”
Del Rio anticipates that both are worthy of winning the job.
“Last year, Menelik was probably leading prior to his injury, but once Austin got his chance, he really played well for us last year. And the more we go through tape this offseason, the more you kind of appreciate what a nice job he did.”
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The Raiders also could draft a young tackle to make it a three-way competition. Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin has been projected by several draft analysts to be the Raiders' choice with their 14th pick in the draft.
