The Raiders have a lot to sort out along their offensive line, but unlike other years it’s beginning to look like the coaching staff is going to have legitimate options, particularly at the two guard spots.
Going into training camp, it looks like Spencer Burford and Jackson Powers-Johnson will be at the top of the Raiders’ depth chart at guard, but a name that has been getting a lot of good attention in recent months is second year guard Caleb Rogers.
Rogers was a third-round pick in last year’s draft, and according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, Rogers has positioned himself well going into training camp.
“When the Raiders picked him in the 2025 NFL Draft, other teams were angry. I heard from two of them, who both essentially told me how great the pick was,” Carpenter wrote in his Saturday column.
“[Rogers] suffered a career setback due to the dysfunction and the epic collapse of 2025 (for which Spytek deserves zero blame), and despite that, the buzz around the building about this young man is loud. He isn’t a pretend tough guy; he is. Rogers has a football IQ that is off the charts,” Carpenter continued.
“One of his teammates laughingly told me, ‘He listens to [offensive line coach Rick Dennison] and hangs on every word. Some guys want to be great; he is committed to doing the work to get there.’ I can tell you that had the team’s complete dysfunction not occurred, I firmly believe he would already be the established starter. Despite entering only his sophomore campaign, I predict he will start games this year and could even earn the opening start.”
Last month, the California Post’s Vinny Bonsignore talked about Rogers after watching him at OTAs, and Bonsignore said at the time he could see Rogers sliding ahead of Jackson Powers-Johnson on the depth chart.
“[Rogers] somebody that I think is pushing for a starting job, and that might be bad news for somebody by the name of Jackson Powers-Johnson,” Bonsignore said in June.
“Another situation that he’s dealing with physically, unfortunate for Jackson Powers-Johnson. But we’ve been talking about this day after day throughout the first two years of his career. Can he stay healthy? Can he be out there? Can he be reliable? Can he be consistent?” Right now, that’s another big if and Caleb Rogers has taken advantage of that. I would not be surprised if he’s a starting guard along with Spencer Burford when the start of the season begins in September.”
Lincoln Kennedy thinks Raiders have 2 exciting Sophomore O-linemen
Former Raider great Lincoln Kennedy has talked at length about the Raiders offensive line going into the 2026 season, and he wants to see the coaching staff give Rogers and Charles Grant (who was also drafted in the third-round last year) opportunities on the field as soon as possible.
“As far as rookies or second year players… I’m expecting a lot of Caleb Rogers. I’m expecting to find a place for Charles Grant. I think he can play in this league. I just need to see it and the only way that we get to see it is live reps,” Kennedy said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast.
“That’s where we go back to the conversation we had before the break about preseason. Do you play these guys all preseason? I would. What are you saving them for? You got to see if they can play. Put them out there in a game situation. See how they handle things. One of the biggest ones that I’m looking for is Caleb Rogers. I’m hoping… expecting him to be out there and possibly challenge for a starting spot.”
x: @raidersbeat
It would be nice if a 3rd round from 1 yr ago would push the weak Burford instead of all the talk about supplanting a guy with actual talent in JPJ. Spytek so far has made plenty of mistakes in the draft and free agency. If he wasn’t an old friend of the wannabe part-time poser minority owner he’d be on the hot seat. A RB at 6 overall when the roster is absolutely horrible was a terrible call. Bech, Thorton were each taken multiple rounds earlier than was needed. Throw in the horrible reaches in the later rounds and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Plus bowing down to Pete last year and bringing in all the ex Seahawks including the 3rd for flipping Geno and to give him an extension on his way in the door. There’s plenty of blame to go on Spytek, don’t let “Hondo” fool you!
Agree with most of this. His 1st draft looks pathetic. Mendoza fell into his lap. They all have it out for JPJ
Yeah, I noticed that as well.
JPJ came in super excited and ready to do anything the raiders wanted when they drafted him.
Somehow the last year and a half between injuries and maybe his mouth it seems like he’s getting a bad rap
I think Spytex is doing a great job overall. Yeah some of the picks or FA signings haven’t worked but hey every GM has a bad pick or signing now and then. This year coming up will shut up a lot of so called fans…that want to do nothing but cry about everything. Jeanty will be a top 10 maybe top 5 back by the end of the yr. Our OLine will be 100pct better than last yr. Our defense will be improved. Only real question mark i can see is WR..but I honestly trust Kubiak play calling to help the receivers . Cousins is a upgrade over last yr. Honestly P. Carroll made a lot of the team building decisions cause he wanted to win right away when he should have played the young guys after he seen we wasn’t that good. So I think our team is a lot better than how they played last yr and I think Spytex has us heading in the right direction. So when we’re winning again finally..i want those pessimistic a-hole fans to stfu and dont act like yall knew we was a good team with a good GM, coaches and players.
You’re not basing this on anything. We call balls and strikes. Jeanty isn’t a game breaker. That’s who you take in the top 5 @ RB. We wanted Membou.
Spending big in FA doesn’t mean jack cuz Tennessee did it too. It’s the benefits of having a QB in a rookie deal.
Spytek has to prove he can draft & that’s up in the air