Two of the bigger questions in free agency are did the Raiders almost sign guard Rodger Saffold to play left tackle, and what are their plans with Menelik Watson? It looked like he wasn’t going to be in the starting lineup, even after the Saffold signing fell through and Donald Penn was inked to play left tackle.

Turns out there was a twist. Oakland signed Austin Howard from the Jets to play guard and not right tackle, and general manager Reggie McKezie and coach Dennis Allen are hoping/expecting Watson starts at right tackle.

This could all change at training camp, according to team sources, but that’s the plan right now. McKenzie has added a lot of versatile offensive linemen and wants tough competition with the ability to move parts around.

Howard, known as a powerful run blocker, has played right tackle in his four years in the NFL but did work at guard in his early days with Philadelphia and Baltimore.

So, you are looking at a possible starting offensive line (left to right) of Donald Penn, Kevin Boothe, Stefen Wisniewski, Howard and Watson. Khalif Barnes could be a swing tackle who also plays guard, and Matt McCants, Tony Bergstrom and Mike Brisiel are still in the mix, as of right now.

The main thrust being, that the Raiders still have hopes for both Watson and cornerback D.J. Hayden and are planning for both last year’s top picks to be starters, as of right now.

McKenzie told reporters Monday at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando that “we would like” to see both to become established starters this season.

“No. 1, we would like for them to be healthy this season and then show their skills,” McKenzie said. “They’ll get coached up during the offseason and hopefully they’ll be healthy and ready to go .. and then play.”