The Oakland Raiders look to be heading in the right direction, as head coach Jack Del Rio led the Silver and Black to a 7-9 record in 2015 and is looking to lead the Raiders to their first winning season since 2002 next season.
General manager Reggie McKenzie has made some big moves in free agency since the start of the league year, and arguably no franchise has improved more with intelligent acquisitions than Oakland this offseason. While Oakland lost some key veteran pieces with the retirements of Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck, they have also replenished their roster landing key pieces on both sides of the ball.
The Raiders' front office looked to add to both their defense and offense this offseason but knew protecting their young quarterback was a priority. Raiders' quarterback Derek Carr is heading into his third season in the NFL and proved last season to be a legitimate starter in the league, but he was sacked 31 times, tied for 13th-most in the league. The Raiders wasted no time bolstering their protection for their young quarterback, as they landed former Ravens' offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele on a massive five-year contract.
Osemele brings versatility to Oakland, as he can play either offensive tackle or guard position, and gained experience playing on both sides of the line in Baltimore. While the Raiders brought in new talent, they wanted to keep continuity and a strong veteran presence in offensive tackle Donald Penn and have reportedly agreed to a new contract to retain him.
Penn was reportedly expected to visit the New York Giants who are also focused on building their offensive line, but he reportedly came to an agreement with the Raiders late on Tuesday evening. The 32-year-old offensive tackle has been a model of consistency, starting in 140 consecutive games dating back to 2007, and is expected to stay as Carr's blind-side blocker, which will allow the Raiders to move Osemele in at guard.
The Raiders have built up the defensive side of the ball with acquisitions in Bruce Irvin and Sean Smith but have also built a dominant offensive line that will look to protect their young franchise quarterback as they look to contend in 2016.
