Kelechi

Osemele

Osemele hasn’t played in the NFL since blowing out both of his knees on the same play with the Chiefs back in Week 5 of 2020. The former All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection is now 33 years old, but the Bears are turning over every leaf in their search for offensive line upgrades.

Watkins is week to week but is expected to dodge the injured reserve, which would’ve guaranteed Watkins would miss at least three games. Watkins is unlikely to be ready for Week 7, however. The Chiefs will get Mecole Hardman onto the field more in his absence, and Tyreek Hill is due more targets as well. Watkins led the team in targets in 3-of-5 games before his injury. He’s a bench hold in 12-team leagues if possible. Hardman now deserves WR3/flex consideration even if his floor remains low.

Ouch. This sounds like torn patellar tendons if we were to make an educated guess. Osemele went down in non-contact fashion in the first half as he sprinted out and tried to lay a block for Patrick Mahomes on a scramble. Osemele crumbled to the ground and was eventually carted off. He’s in all likelihood done for the season. And at 31 years old, Osemele’s career may be in doubt. Torn patellar tendons have ruined many career in much younger players. Veteran Mike Remmers replaced Osemele in the lineup.

It’s worth “up to” $2 million. Osemele underwent surgery in the middle of last season to repair his shoulder, and things got ugly with the Jets who ended up releasing him in October. Now healthy, Osemele joins the defending champs in Kansas City where he’ll try and fill in for RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has opted out of the 2020 season. It’s a great landing spot for Osemele and another veteran presence to protect the half-billion dollar man.

Garafolo stops short of making this a full-blown “Report:" but strongly hints it is something he has heard in league circles. The Ravens have the unenviable task of replacing the now-retired Marshal Yanda. Osemele’s career has been in steady free fall since he left the Ravens in free agency four years ago. Three months shy of his 31st birthday, Osemele would be unlikely to simply slot back in as an immediate starter in Baltimore.

This deal would dramatically reset the guard market, but it is likely the Raiders are signing Osemele to replace LT Donald Penn, who is expected to bolt in free agency. If Penn re-signs, Osemele would join LG Gabe Jackson and C Rodney Hudson in a stacked interior line. The deal is expected to be finalized when the new league year begins Wednesday afternoon.

Garafalo would “call (Oakland) the favorites” for Osemele, who is the top free agent guard on the market and can also play tackle. Garafolo expects Osemele to command over $10 million per year. Osemele could be a left tackle option in Oakland, where Donald Penn’s contract is up. More likely, Osemele would bookend studly LG Gabe Jackson at guard. In Jackson, Osemele, and C Rodney Hudson, the Raiders would suddenly have an imposing interior line.

Derek Carr, RG Gabe Jackson, and Osemele carried the three highest cap figures on the club (with Antonio Brown’s reported deal still pending), so it’s unsurprising the Raiders moved one of them. Oakland will fortuitously forego any amount of dead money in the deal, instead shipping the $21.9 million Osemele is owed over the next two seasons all to New York. The 29-year-old guard is a tremendous upgrade in the middle of the Jets’ trenches. When asked about Osemele’s 2018 performance at the combine, new Raiders GM Mike Mayock stated it was “up and down a little bit, but he’s a starting left guard in the NFL and there aren’t many guys around.”

Swingman Jon Feliciano will start at left guard in place of Osemele. Tackles T.J. Clemmings and Justin Murray are the lone backups at that position, with Clemmings typically filling in as swing-tackle depth.

No surprises here. This will be Osemele’s second straight missed game.