If the Las Vegas Raiders are truly going to move on from Gabe Jackson it would be in their interest to sign some sort of insurance policy to fill the void the veteran guard would leave.
The Raiders offensive line was one of its strongest units last season, however, it seems the entire group might no be back. NFL insider Ian Rapoport recently shared that Jackson could be the odd man out via Twitter.
Two intriguing names that have been discussed in trade talks as the league year nears opening: #Ravens QB Robert Griffin III and #Raiders G Gabe Jackson, sources say. Jackson is due $9.6M and RGIII is due $2M. Both contracts are not guaranteed and both are tradable.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2020
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If this does indeed come to fruition, what should general manager Mike Mayock do? There’s always a chance a guard gets drafted late, or perhaps they go the undrafted route. Another option, with free agency just days away, would be to sign a replacement. It’s doubtful Mayock drops money on someone like Brandon Scherff, who’s a top talent despite recently battling injuries. Here’s a few names that could hypothetically be on the Raiders radar if Jackson’s truly gone.
Graham Glasgow
Glasgow, who was a third round selection, could provide quality depth as he’s played along that line as a guard and center. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.1 overall rating on his 872 snaps in 2019. Since joining the Lions three seasons ago, he’s started 58 games and other than 2016, he’s been reliable health-wise. PFF also ranked him as the 73rd top NFL free agent, which is also impressive. His previous signing bonus was worth $645K and while it’s doubtful he’d settle for that amount again, I’d be hard-pressed to believe Glasgow would break the bank.
Stefen Wisniewski
The former Raiders center and nephew of the legendary Steven Wisniewski could certainly fill Jackson’s void. The 2011 second-round pick could find his way back with the Silver and Black under head coach Jon Gruden. Offensively, the team is in much better shape than it was during Wisniewski first stint. Earning a PFF 70.9 grade last season, his playoff experience should also pay dividends on a squad that is still trying to climb back there since 2016. Contractually speaking, his last deal with the Chiefs was a one-year deal that paid him slightly under $1 million dollars. He only took 20% of his available offensive snaps last season, which possibly might be the case again if he platoons behind Denzelle Good.
Greg Van Roten
Van Roten, hailing from the University of Pennsylvania, could also provide depth. Starting his career with the Packers, Van Roten’s started 27 games for the Panthers in the last two years. For the 2019 season, PFF gave him a 65.6 rating. Also, he’s only been flagged for one penalty in his career. Under offensive line coach Tom Cable, Van Roten could possibly flourish and become a free-agent steal. Per Spotrac, his last singing bonus of $100K
Austin Blythe
Blythe, former seventh round pick from Iowa, could also be signed to help. Despite being draft by the Colts, he has been with the L.A. Rams since 2017, where he started 32 games. PFF has Blythe ranked as the 96th ranked free agent, a potentially strong solid signing, quite literally as he benched 29 reps at his combine in 2016.
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