So, the Raiders traded center Rodney Hudson. Then they signed former Texans center Nick Martin. One center gone, another signed to replace him, right? Well, then they gave backup center Andre James a three-year extension. And suddenly who will be replacing Hudson at center doesn’t seem so cut and dry.
It would appear, however, that the three-year commitment with James offers some indication that he will be given every opportunity to win the center job despite Martin having 62 NFL starts at center in his four-year career.
“I’m just going to come in here and compete and I’m excited to have an opportunity,” Martin said Wednesday over video conference call.
That’s as close to an answer as Martin would give as to what position or role he will be playing with the Raiders, suggesting he’s been guaranteed nothing aside from a chance to win the center job. But if that doesn’t work out, and James becomes the heir apparent to Hudson for the Raiders center job, lining up at guard is something Martin is open to.
“Yeah, absolutely, I played some guard in college and early in my career in Houston I was kind of flopping around a little bit there,” said Martin. “So, yeah, [guard] still is [a part of my game] and whatever I can do to help this organization I’m willing to do.”
Martin may have played some guard here and there for the Texans, and for Notre Dame early in college, but all of his starts in the pros have been at center.
Where he does his best work is as a pass protector. As a guard, he would be asked to open holes in the run game. For James’s part, he was a tackle in college, only switching to center when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders. They like him enough as a center that he has only ever lined up there.
It would appear the Raiders are hoping James can be the starter, but have Martin in case that doesn’t work out. And Martin could then be the utility interior reserve in much the same way they used to use Jon Feliciano.