For the Oakland Raiders, the message this offseason has been that the time is now to win. Almost to a man, Raiders' coaches and players, upon arriving for the start of offseason activities, spoke of how happy they were that such a talented and seemingly capable foundation had been built by GM Reggie McKenzie. But they also said that the promise of 2015 and the free agent additions McKenzie made prior to the 2016 NFL Draft mattered little if they didn't then translate to wins on the field this year.
And while Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson are sure to comprise an integral portion of the Raiders' starting defense, it may be the addition of offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele that has the biggest impact on the franchise when it comes to wins.
"The first time I saw that guy, I couldn't believe how big he was, not just how big he was because all offensive linemen are big, but that guy is jacked," Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. "You could that he's not just a big guy. He's cut, he's lean. It's just like, 'You weigh what? And you look like that?' It's unreal. The guy is a freak of nature."
Osemele isn't just a freak of nature, physically speaking, though. He's able to translate that imposing presence to impact in both the run and the pass game, clearing holes for ballcarriers and creating time for quarterbacks.
Carr has made great strides over two professional seasons, utilizing his improved passing weapons in 2015 - Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper - and improved decision-making to turn himself into a top-10 quarterback in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
In NFL year two, Carr completed more passes (350) on fewer attempts (573), for more yards (3,987), touchdowns (32) and only on more interception than 2014 (13).
And while Cooper and Crabtree - and assuming another year of development for Clive Walford - will continue to aid Carr's overall development, it may be that Osemele and the re-signing of Donald Penn will be the reason for the Raiders' franchise quarterback to take yet another step forward in year three.
But it won't just be about alleviating pressure. Thanks to offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave's system and Carr's quick trigger, Carr was hit just 64 times in 2015, the fourth-best mark in the league. The sack numbers weren't as good - 33 quarterback takedowns, which was 13th - but overall, Carr was protected well last year.
No, the addition of Osemele is most important for Oakland because it kills two birds with one stone - it improves its power up front, which should have a positive impact on Latavius Murray and whoever else winds up carrying the ball for the Raiders.
The Raiders finished 2015 just 28th in the league with a little more than 91 yards per game on the ground. Over the final seven games of the season, Murray, despite breaking the 1,000-yard mark and reaching the Pro Bowl, averaged less than three yards per tote four times.
In turn, that left the offensive burden solely on Carr and the passing game.
Really, if the Raiders' passing game is going to take a step forward in 2016, it'll be because of Osemele's aid to the run game, creating a more balanced attack and keeping defenses honest at the line of scrimmage, which should open passing lanes for Carr and company.
