NFL rumors: Raiders could trade Kelechi Osemele, other GMs believe

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Kelechi Osemele has started 35 games at guard over the Raiders’ past two-plus seasons, but that streak could end soon.

Some NFL general managers believe the Pro Bowl lineman could be dealt by Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Sunday.

If Osemele is traded, it would fit with the Raiders’ rebuild. He will be 30 next season, and Oakland might be able to easily find a replacement in next year’s NFL draft, especially now that the team is armed with three first-round picks because of the Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper trades.

And there’s the cost savings. Osemele, who signed a five-year, $58.5 million contract with the Raiders as a free agent in 2016, is scheduled to make $9.7 million in 2019 and $11.2 million in 2010. He has played through the guaranteed-money portion of his contract, although he’d carry a $10 million-plus salary cap hit in those two future seasons.

Osemele currently is dealing with a knee sprain that has keep him out of the Raiders' lineup since a Sept. 30 win over the Browns.

David Carr might have hinted at such a move when he said Monday that Derek Carr, his younger brother and the Raiders’ quarterback, was told: "There's some interior offensive linemen there that are going to be there, and Jon [Gruden, the Raiders’ coach] has made it clear to Derek ... they're gonna build around those guys and make something happen."

Osemele might not be one of “those guys,” as Gruden shapes the Raiders as he sees fit.

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