Former Raiders OG Osemele Brings Game to KC

On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent guard Kelechi Osemele to a deal. Osemele replaces Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who decided to opt out, due to COVID-19. Osemele gives the Chiefs a quality replacement at a great price. More importantly, Osemele joins the team that stands directly in the way of the Las Vegas Raiders. Suffice to say, the signs adds another layer.

Chip on His Shoulder

After the trade to the New York Jets, Osemele struggled. Also, he bumped heads with the team, coach, and doctors. In the middle of the 2019 season, Osemele suffered a torn labrum. A team of doctors instructed him to undergo surgery to repair the injury. The Jets, being, well, the Jets botched this. The team fined him, for the surgery. Osemele shared thoughts with the NY Daily News.

“Honestly, I haven’t even been looking [at the fines],” Osemele said. “I’m not even concerned about the money, right now I’m concerned about my health. Yes [it is a lot of money], but I’ve made a lot of money in my career. I’m not one of those people who does sh-t for money at this point in my life. My health is important to me, it’s really about that.”

Raiders Candor

When Jon Gruden arrived, the Raiders traded Khalil Mack before the season, people felt a massive, painful rebuild. Despite the team stating the contrary, the organization began dismantling the squad. Shortly after, the team dealt Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys. Osemel recounted to the Bleacher Report.

That for sure was like the dagger,” Osemele said of finding out Cooper had been traded. “You could feel it. Like, people were talking about it in the locker room, like, ‘Yo, I guess they’re like really rebuilding.’ You just, like, knew at that point.”

 What’s Left?

Kelechi Osemele just turned 31 years old in June. Is he the same dominant player? Who knows? Is he healed? Yes. What can the Raiders anticipate from their former elite guard? Aggression. Think about it: The Jets traded for and mistreated a former Pro Bowl player, denying him surgery. They released him with no fanfare. More importantly, he remembers this team. As a result, he understands that the scheme the Raiders will feature. Basically, Osemele gives the Chiefs attitude and brute force. In Andy Reid’s offense, Osemele doesn’t need to dominate. If he does, the Raiders could have a problem.