A starting member of the Raiders’ 2022 offensive line will remain in place next season. Guard Alex Bars is re-signing on a one-year deal, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).
The 27-year-old spent the first three seasons of his career with the Bears. Over that time, he logged a total of 11 starts across 38 total appearances. In the 2020 campaign, he saw work at center, as well as both guard positions. After primarily being used as a backup, his arrival in Vegas last offseason paved the way for his first full-time starting opportunity.
Bars started 14 of 15 contests with the Raiders in 2022, seeing a snap share of 87%. A member of the team’s in-flux offensive line, he saw time at left guard, but primarily worked at the opposite position during the year. As was the case during his tenure in Chicago, however, Bars delivered a highly underwhelming performance in terms of PFF ratings. He ranked 71st out of 77 qualifying guards in terms of overall grade (45.4).
That made Bars one of several Raiders linemen to underperform in 2022, though the unit is set to look quite familiar in at least the summer, if not the fall. Bars joins fellow interior contributors Hroniss Grasu and Netane Muti, along with tackles Brandon Parker, Jermaine Eluemunor and Justin Murray, as free agents who have re-upped with Vegas or inked a futures contract thus far.
As the Raiders continue to search for outside additions up front, Bars is now in place as an experienced backup or someone who can take on a starting role if needed. Given his level of play, however, a more notable move along the interior on Vegas’ part would come as little surprise.
Raiders find OL help in BARS !!