Raiders re-sign OT Walker

Sports - December 31, 2006

The Raiders have re-signed free agent offensive lineman Langston Walker. The 31 year old Walker was originally drafted by the Raiders in the 2nd round of the 02 Draft out of Cal and played in high school for Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland.

He was the eventual starting right tackle after Lincoln Kennedy retired. He played his first five NFL seasons in Oakland, starting all 16 games in 2006. In 2007 his contract expired and he then signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent. He was a starter with the Bills for two seasons. But then they attempted to move him to left tackle with poor results and he was released prior to last season.

Midway through last season the Raiders had a rash of injuries along the line and decided to give good old Langston a call. They brought him into the fold and he filled in spot duty for the injured Robert Gallery at left guard. He played the position better than any of the other fill-ins.

The hope going into this season could be that he could go back to playing right tackle. Cornell Green is gone (ironically signed with Buffalo) so the position is up for grabs. Khalif Barnes was retained but after his reluctance to play right tackle in the preseason then his subsequent stinking-up-the-joint performance in relief of Green last season, there is no clear cut favorite to win the job.

The re-signing of Barnes and Walker likely won’t affect the Raiders drafting of an offensive tackle though. These two are good bets to make the team but will probably either as temporary starters or solid backups.

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