Ah, right tackle. That position at which the Raiders always seem to be searching for a definitive answer. An annual effort that always seems to fail.
Many thought the new regime would make the right tackle position either their top priority or close to it this offseason. Whether that be in free agency or the draft. That didn’t really happen.
Their top free agent addition came on the defensive line and the top draft picks came at tight end and guard. Leaving right tackle one again a position at which there will be a competition.
Thayer Munford vs DJ Glaze
Munford is a former seventh round pick who has hung around as the team has hoped he would develop into a starter for them. Entering his third season, he appears to have his best shot.
He started nine games last season — five at right tackle and four at left tackle. Appearing to play his best football on the left side, which is why his OL coach recently said Munford is most comfortable on the left side. But that doesn’t mean that’s where he will play. Because it’s more important that they field the two best tackles, and the starting left tackle job belongs to Kolton Miller.
Entering the competition is rookie third round pick DJ Glaze. Glaze played both left and right tackle equally at Maryland, but his immediate job with the Raiders is to compete for the right tackle spot.
Both Munford and Glaze have position versatility, so whoever doesn’t win the right tackle job, can be the team’s reserve swing tackle.
My take:
As of now it’s Munford’s job to lose. And I don’t foresee him losing it before the start of the season. That doesn’t mean he is the long term answer. It means I expect the team to give him at least part of this season to find out if he *can* be the long term answer. If not, then Glaze will get his shot.
