There’s still a need at right tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s especially true if the possibility exists that Alex Leatherwood will be the team’s right guard. Perhaps convincing Bryan Bulaga to make the move from Los Angeles to Sin City makes sense.
Bulaga could bounce back with the Raiders in 2022
Josh McDaniels’ offensive line has plenty of versatile pieces, but the caveat to having so many is that almost all of the slots are up for grabs. Brandon Parker hasn’t impressed fans but is reliable in spot starts, and Jermaine Eluemunor is familiar with the new Raiders head coach’s offensive scheme. If Leatherwood were moved inside permanently, Eluemunor would likely get the starting snaps. However, competition is the name of the game with the Silver and Black now, and Bulaga, if healthy, is more than a capable option.
The issue with Bulaga is his health. In March, the Los Angeles Chargers released him and saved nearly $10.7 million in cap space. The move itself didn’t surprise many folks when you realize that he only played in one game following a core muscle injury. From 2010 through 2019, Bulaga started 111 games at right tackle for the Green Bay Packers. In 2020, he started ten games for the Chargers, earning a Pro Football Focus 65.1 pass-blocking grade. Bulaga allowed just two sacks that season and earned a grand total of zero penalties.
Las Vegas needs a proven right tackle
Yes, Bulaga is coming off a major injury, but this will benefit any team that needs a proven commodity, the Raiders included. It was only as recently as 2020 that Bulaga was considered one of the NFL’s toughest players. He consistently anchored the Packers’ offensive line for the better part of a decade, and at 33 years old, McDaniels can milk the last of what Bulaga has left. One way to think about this is that the Raiders could have Bulaga compete with Eluemunor and Parker while preparing to draft a right tackle next April. Proven tackles don’t come around often, and while there are other options such as Daryl Williams and Bulaga, they wouldn’t hurt either.
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*Top Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images