There may not be a group more in the spotlight this season for the Las Vegas Raiders than the offensive line.
It was a unit that struggled mightily last season, but will now be tasked with protecting the organization’s most valuable asset in top pick Fernando Mendoza.
There is reason to believe things can get better fairly quickly.
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New coach Klint Kubiak brings a scheme that should better utilize the existing players and the organization made a huge investment by making center Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in league history.
But all eyes will be watching to see just how big of a jump they make, starting when training camp ramps up on Wednesday.
The Review-Journal will count down to the opening session by looking at a different position group each day, continuing with the offensive line today.
Roster
Interior: Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Spencer Burford, Caleb Rogers, Jordan Meredith, Trey Zuhn III, Will Putnam, Atonio Mafi, Justin Pickett
Tackles: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Dalton Wagner, Kamar Missouri, Isaiah Jatta, Niklas Henning
Outlook
Linderbaum’s spot at center is by far the most secure of any player on the line and he should make everyone else better with his presence.
Obviously, Miller is the leader of the group at left tackle and is still capable of playing at a very high level, but age and injuries are starting to catch up with him a bit. The hope for the Raiders is that he is healthy and anchors the left side of the line for 17 games, but that’s happened just once in the last three seasons.
It would be a big relief for the team if he can do it again.
Glaze has essentially been the starter at right tackle since he arrived in the 2024 draft and is the favorite to win the job again, though he could have some competition.
Grant, a 2025 selection, has a ton of athleticism and will be a very intriguing option as he adds size and strength to his frame. He will try to make a case for the job, beginning in camp.
There aren’t many other obvious options, though one possibility would be Zuhn. The rookie played both tackle and center in college, but was announced as a guard in the draft. The Raiders gave him looks at right tackle in OTAs and could be convinced to keep him out there if he shows well in camp, especially with far more depth at guard. Where he takes reps will be one of the more intriguing offensive line storylines to follow in camp.
Henning, the No. 2 pick in the Canadian Football League draft, and Missouri were signed after showing the coaches and personnel staff enough on tryout invites at rookie minicamp. Jatta was signed after going undrafted.
Wagner is a massive individual who has just been hanging around the organization for three seasons waiting for an opportunity.
There is more depth and potential competition for starter reps at guard.
Powers-Johnson is a fan favorite who just has not been able to find the kind of consistency that made him one of the best offensive linemen in college football at Oregon. He now enters his third training camp with something to prove to the new staff and playing guard full time instead of pushing to move to center should benefit him.
While he has put plenty of highlights on film, he will look to show he can maintain his motor for the entire game on every snap to take the next step in his career.
He will compete for a starting spot with most likely Rogers, who played well down the stretch of his rookie season, and veteran Burford, who started 38 games in four seasons with the 49ers.
But they won’t be alone.
Zuhn is certainly capable of pushing for one of the jobs and Meredith is also still around. He has started 20 games for the Raiders and played in 45 over the last four years. An attempt to move him to center last year didn’t really work out, but he played his best football at guard in 2024.
Putnam started a pair of games at center last year and Mafi started two at left guard. Both will try to make their case to stick around, though having several other players who have snapped before and could back up Linderbaum isn’t a great development for Putnam.
Pickett is an undrafted rookie from Duke who will try to make an impression.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
