UPDATE: USA Today reports that Kelechi Osemele's five-year agreement with the Raiders is worth $58.5 million ($11.7 million average annual value), with Pro Bowl incentives that could increase the payout to $60 million. The contract contains $24.5 million in guaranteed money.
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The Raiders found a building block on the offensive line.
When the free agent market officially opens on Wednesday afternoon, Kelechi Osemele is expected to sign a contract with the Silver and Black after coming to an agreement in principle on a deal, a source confirmed to CSNCalifornia.com...
The contract will be worth over $11.5 million annually, according to the source.
According to the NFL Network's Rand Getlin, who first reported the agreement, Osmele's deal is for five years and $60 million. The proposed contract's exact structure is not known, but it's like Osemele receives significant funds early in the life of the deal.
The pact can't be signed until 1pm PT on Wednesday.
Recently, sources told CSNCalifornia.com that the Raiders had strong interest in Osemele despite a massive paycheck awaiting him in free agency.
The Raiders made center Rodney Hudson the prize of last year’s free agent class. General manager Reggie McKenzie has no problem spending big up front, as part of his quest to build intimidating offensive and defensive lines.
[BAIR: Raiders FA preview: Osemele problem solver at several OL spots]
He made Hudson one of the NFL’s highest paid centers. He gave right tackle Austin Howard big bucks the year before and would’ve done the same for Rodger Saffold had the guard’s pre-contract physical gone better.
Osemele, 26, is one of the NFL’s best interior linemen, with the physicality, nastiness and position versatility Raiders coaches prefer. Osemele played left tackle well near last season’s end, and could fill in on the outside if required.
That isn’t the end goal. The Raiders still hope Donald Penn stays in Oakland. The 33-year old played a solid left tackle during two seasons with the Raiders, and the team hoped to sign him before their exclusive negotiating window closed. That happened Monday morning, when NFL teams were first allowed to contact player’s reps during a two-day negotiating period prior to the formal start of free agency on Wednesday afternoon.
It seems likely Penn will reach that date as an unrestricted free agent, where he’ll be one of the best left tackles on the market.
If the Raiders can keep Penn after the addition of Osemele, they’d have one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. The Raiders were confident and hopeful they would secure Osemele and this latest line push shows the team’s commitment to building a bully up front.
