With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ guard position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Returning starter: John Simpson, Alex Leatherwood
Backups: Denzelle Good, Lester Cotton, Jordan Simmons, Hronis Grasu, Jeremiah Poutasi, Jordan Meredith
Free agents: Richie Incognito, Jermaine Eluemunor
Simpson stepped up at left guard last season with Richie Incognito lost to a calf injury that kept him out all season. He wasn’t a world-beater, but he was serviceable.
Right guard was in need of a near-season-long injury replacement as well. Denzelle Good was lost for the season in the opener and after three games of Jermaine Eluemunor starting, they moved Alex Leatherwood over from tackle to guard. Leatherwood was drafted by the Raiders with intentions on him playing tackle despite most draft analysis saying he was destined to play guard. While he flashed some athleticism in downfield blocking, it was inconsistent and he was a liability in pass protection. And the penalties, oh the penalties.
Condition: Unstable
Richie Incognito is a free agent and he’s 38, coming off a lost season to injury. His career is likely done. While fellow original starter Good is a potential cap cut unless they intend for him to supplant either Simpson or Leatherwood as a starter or possibly move to tackle.
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