Joe

Barksdale

OT Ty Nsekhe was waived in a corresponding move. The Giants were reportedly also interested in Barksdale, but the Rams had the higher claim. Barksdale was a third-round pick just last year, but had yet to be active this season. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, however, and should be in line for a decent amount of snaps along the Rams’ banged up and ineffective line.

Barnes wasn’t a shoo-in to keep his job when he re-signed in March, but the Raiders didn’t draft any tackles. Barnes struggled mightily last season and is an odd fit for Oakland’s new zone-blocking scheme. Joseph Barksdale might get a look, but he’s another blocker with heavy feet and poor system fit. Right tackle could be a major trouble spot for the Raiders this year.

That would be a big promotion for Barnes, who was basically reduced to being an extra lineman in jumbo packages last season. Barnes will compete for the job with third-round pick Joseph Barksdale if the Raiders do not sign a veteran free agent, which they are expected to do.

This looks like the weak link on Oakland’s offensive line. Barnes hasn’t started since 2008, when he fell apart in the second half of the season. Rookie Joseph Barksdale is a good bet to take over before the end of the season.

Barksdale is a top-notch athlete with requisite tackle length. The knock on him has always been his lack of physicality, as Barksdale was considered to have all the tools at LSU but never played up to his ability. The Raiders’ biggest sore spot is right tackle, so that position gives him his best shot to start.

The Raiders traded their 2012 second-rounder for New England’s third- and fourth-round picks, giving the Pats double firsts and seconds again next year. Oakland is wrapping up its two-year overhaul of the O-Line, bringing in Barksdale at right tackle opposite Jared Veldheer while Bruce Campbell and Stefen Wisniewski man the interior. A 39-game starter at LSU, Barksdale raised his stock with an impressive performance at the East-West shrine game. At 6'5/336 with solid fundamentals and strength, Barksdale has the requisite tools to succeed at right tackle.

Langston Walker is reportedly considering retirement, Khalif Barnes is an unrestricted free agent, and four-year vet Mario Henderson could also end up hitting the open market. Walker was among the NFL’s premier run-blocking tackles last season, so there could be a falloff if Barksdale takes over.

“He’s a very tremendous player,” said Jackson. “We drafted the right guy. He has all the qualities that we were looking for. He’s everything that I thought he would be.” Jackson noted that Wisniewski and third-round RT Joseph Barksdale are both “getting it done,” so the Raiders could end up with two rookies starting up front.

New GM Reggie McKenzie continues to clean up the old regime’s mess. Barksdale was a 2011 third-round pick that appeared in no games this year and ends his Raider career with zero starts. He’ll attract attention on the open market thanks to his 39 college starts at LSU and 6'4/325 frame.

If they don’t succeed in re-signing Mario Henderson, Langston Walker, or Khalif Barnes, the Raiders will look outside the organization. A tackle signing “will happen,” says beat writer Jerry McDonald.