Kelechi Osemele appears on his way to the Oakland Raiders -- deals won't be official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET tomorrow -- as the first big-money signing of the 2016 free-agency period, but how he fits there depends on where they plan to play him.
Osemele fits extremely well at guard, even if it would require moving to the right side of the line. But he's a far bigger question mark at left tackle, which might be where the Raiders intend to play him, considering that Donald Penn's contract is up.
Osemele has been a top-five run-blocking guard in each of the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus grading, but his pass protection has never been a strength, even inside at the relative safety of guard. The Raiders like to run the football with power up front and already have a pretty good line in place to do so, but asking Osemele to play at left tackle would be exposing his key weakness.
In 2015, he played the final four games at left tackle, averaging two pressures given up per game as well as a penalty. Those aren't bad numbers -- in addition, he did not surrender a sack in any of those four games -- but they're not great, and the Raiders are asking him to be great, given the money he will be earning.
Back in 2012, he played the entire season at right tackle, and we saw the same story. His run-blocking was good, but his pass protection was only average; he allowed seven sacks, 40 total pressures and eight penalties that season.
Osemele actually had seven strong games in pass protection that season, but when he was exposed in that area, he was exposed badly. He was beaten for multiple sacks in a game twice and allowed at least five total pressures three times. Pass-blocking in the NFL is often not about the plays in which you do your job and hold your own, but about how bad things can get when the wheels fall off. Those are the plays that change games and game plans.
When you run up against a Von Miller, can you contain him even though you are going to lose the overall battle in that game, or will you be beaten so badly you change the game?
Osemele has held his own at tackle during his NFL career, but if he is going to be a permanent left tackle, we are going to find out how well he can hold up on those bad days.
The Raiders have spots that could be upgraded at guard and both tackle positions, meaning Osemele's versatility could be a big plus even if his role has yet to be determined. Left tackle has become a hole that needs to be filled with Penn hitting free agency, but right guard was inadequately manned by J'Marcus Webb last season. Austin Howard actually held down the right tackle spot pretty well in 2015, but is likely not a player who would block Osemele's path if the Raiders determined that was his best fit.
In essence, Oakland has to decide whether Osemele is better at right guard, plugging a major problem area from a season ago, or whether they need him at left tackle, still seen as the key position to secure along the offensive line, even if this may be where he is less effective.
He fits like a glove at guard and is likely worth every penny of the contract they are handing him, but there is far more risk involved in playing him at left tackle.