The Oakland Raiders will re-sign left tackle Donald Penn on Wednesday, providing the final piece for what could be one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines in 2016.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Raiders and Penn completed a deal in Oakland before he could make a scheduled visit with the New York Giants.
The #Raiders will re-sign LT Donald Penn today, source said. He was scheduled to fly to the #Giants today, but he’ll never get on the plane
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2016
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Penn, 32, has maintained throughout free agency that he preferred a return to Oakland, where he’s played the last two seasons. A 16-game starter for the Raiders in both 2014 and 2015, Penn has protected the blindside during every start of quarterback Derek Carr’s NFL career.
His return looked murky after the Raiders spent big on guard/tackle Kelechi Osemele to start free agency. Now, Oakland should enter next season with one of the league’s most attractive offensive lines.
Osemele will stay at guard, where he will combine with center Rodney Hudson and left guard Gabe Jackson to form a strong interior trio. Penn remains at left tackle, while Austin Howard—the likely starter at right tackle—has started 29 games for the Raiders since 2014. Oakland also has tackle Menelik Watson, a former second-round pick, returning from an Achilles injury that cost him the entire 2015 season.
The Raiders have had a successful run at free agency, landing headliners such as Osemele, linebacker Bruce Irvin and cornerback Sean Smith with big deals. Keeping Penn is less flashy of a move, but it will provide the Raiders with continutiy along an offensive line that might now be one of the league’s best.
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