New kid on the ‘block’
Osemale eager to protect Darnold
Kelechi Osemele was walking out of church with his girlfriend when the call came. The Raiders had traded the Pro Bowl guard to the Jets.
“I was just kind of shocked, obviously, because I didn’t really see it coming,” Osemele said.
Soon, though, Osemele said he became excited about the idea of returning to the East Coast, where he played for the Ravens from 2012-15. He also got excited about playing with Jets quarterback Sam Darnold as he enters his second season.
The Jets sent their fifthround pick to Oakland in exchange for Osemele and the Raiders’ sixth-round pick. Osemele was the Jets’ big move to improve the offensive line and help protect Darnold. Osemele said he and his new quarterback chatted briefly after he signed.
“We talked on Instagram after the signing, just about me being his new bodyguard and being excited about the upcoming season,” Osemele said. “I think he’s a young and confident player. He’s only going to keep getting better and better. I’m just excited to provide any type of leadership and any type of fire that he needs while we’re on the field so that he can do what he does best. I think it’s going to be exciting.”
The Jets made a big splash in free agency last week with the signings of Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley leading the way, but it may be the trade for Osemele before free agency opened that ends up being their biggest move this offseason. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and was firstteam All-Pro in 2016.
His level of play dipped last year as hhe ddealtl withih iinjuries. j i The 29-year-old ended up playing in just 11 games for the Raiders. There also are some who believe he was disenchanted with new coach Jon Gruden and his roster overhaul, which included trading away top players Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.
Osemele said last season was tough.
“YYeah,h jjust ddealingli withih iinjuries and battling through that the entire year and not being able to play like myself,” he said. “That’s part of the game. It happens. I just have to stay healthy this next season and play like a Pro Bowl player that I usually play like.”
Osemele has spent this offseason getting in better shape. He is down from 330 pounds to about 307, he said. He hopes to play this season at 315 pounds. He has been on a strict ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting to get in better shape.
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Osemele said. “I’m as strong as I’ve ever been. I’m as explosive as I’ve ever been. Knock on wood, [I’ll] stay healthy. That’s the only thing that would ever limit me is an injury. That was what stopped me last year from playing at a high level. You look at the film, the film speaks for itself. I’m going to dominate like I always do and control what I can control.”
Besides getting to play with Darnold, Osemele now gets to block for Bell, who signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets in free agency.
“I think it’s going to be exciting, man,” Osemele said. “Obviously, he likes to make plays, make people miss, run through people. It’s going to be fun. I think the more under control we are, the better with the type of runner that he is. He’s a patient runner. He kind of likes to see holes open up before he really accelerates.”