For years, the Las Vegas Raiders were propped up by one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The 2020 season was no different as they were able to consistently win in the trenches and give Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs the time and space to effectively run the Raider offense.
However, the offensive line is suddenly a giant question mark for Las Vegas after they decided to release Richie Incognito, Gabe Jackson, and Rodney Hudson. They also reportedly agreed to trade Trent Brown to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick.
With so many spots to fill along the o-line, the Raiders expressed immediate interest in Kyle Long, who recently came out of retirement. Long’s last appearance on a football field was with the Chicago Bears in 2019 but appears set for his second stint in the league.
Long completed his workout with the Raiders on Tuesday morning but tweeted out he was on the way to his next workout:
Headed ✈️
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 16, 2021
Long is presumably on his way to meet and work out with the Kansas City Chiefs, who also have needs at both tackle spots after cutting Eric Fisher and Mitchel Schwartz. Long spent his first couple seasons at right guard but switched to right tackle in 2016 and performed well enough to earn his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
Las Vegas seems to be operating under the idea that they can get similar offensive line production at a cheaper cost, which is not a terrible approach given the talent and depth of this interior offensive line free-agent class. When healthy, Long was a force inside, and if he is close to his peak, he could re-fortify things for the Silver and Black.
If Long is unable to land with the Chiefs, it might be in the Raiders’ best interest to get a deal done with him sooner than later.
