Snagged in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft after an All-Pac-10 run at Washington, Khalif Barnes landed in North Florida to protect Fred Taylor’s blindside. Blessed with 6-foot-6 length and smooth movement traits, he cracked the starting lineup midway through his rookie year, locked down the left tackle spot for 12 starts, and earned PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition for a playoff-bound 12–4 squad.

Barnes made his living as an aggressive, physically imposing edge blocker who paved the way for Jack Del Rio’s run-heavy attack. Working alongside interior stalwarts like Vince Manuwai and Brad Meester, his mobility on pulls and zone stretches created massive operational lanes for Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew during the tandem's peak production years.

Consistency in the starting lineup was his hallmark throughout his initial contract. Barnes stepped onto the field for 60 of a possible 64 regular-season contests in a Jaguars uniform—starting 57 of them—and posted steady annual Approximate Value marks of 7, 9, 10, and 8. That reliability peaked in 2007, when he anchored the left edge for an 11–5 roster that stormed into the Divisional Round.

Upon reaching unrestricted free agency following the 2008 campaign, Barnes inked a deal with Oakland. He spent seven seasons with the Raiders as a versatile swing tackle and guard before finishing his 12-year NFL career with brief stints in New Orleans and Arizona.