Photo by Tony Gonzales
The Oakland Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent T Austin Howard, General Manager Reggie McKenzie announced Wednesday.
Howard has started 16 games each of the last two seasons, all at right tackle, for the New York Jets since winning the job in the 2012 training camp.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Howard has appeared in 36 games with 33 starts. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 and made the team out of camp. After playing in four games that year, the 6-foot-7, 333-pounder signed with the Ravens' practice squad in 2011 before being signed to the Jets' active roster in November 2011.
The Davenport, Iowa native attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he began his collegiate career as a blocking tight end before switching to tackle as a sophomore in 2008. In his junior season of 2009, Howard was named to the American Football Coaches Association's FCS All-America team and second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference.
