The Raiders’ offensive line was arguably the worst in the NFL in 2025, and it was a position group that GM John Spytek clearly prioritized in the offseason.
But even with the addition of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, the Raiders only have two guaranteed starters going into offseason activities. Linderbaum will be the center, and Kolton Miller will return to left tackle for his ninth season.
As for the rest of the offensive line in Vegas, the coaching staff will be anxious to see what they have in Jackson Powers-Johnson, Caleb Rogers, Charles Grant, Spencer Burford, D.J. Glaze and third-round rookie Trey Zuhn III.
Many believe Zuhn, who can play guard or tackle, will factor into the starting lineup, and Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter thinks a new face in the room will crack the starting lineup in 2026, as well.
“[The Raiders] go out and get Spencer Burford in free agency, [who] I think is going to be a starter,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“So when you get your left tackle, your left guard, a generational center, a new right guard and you’re going to finally be back to a scheme with a right tackle who’s proven he can perform at a high level, I like it. They’ve got three new additions on that offensive line in the off season. We’ll come back and review it.”
“I don’t mind being accountable, but I’m telling you, I was listening to someone on national television rip the Raiders for their offensive line… and I texted the guy, he’s a national guy, and I [said] do you not do any research? They’ve got three new guys. And also look at the dysfunction of last year, Rick Dennison, the best offensive line coach… they have invested there.”
Burford, who is only 25, came to the Raiders from the 49ers in free agency on a one year, $3.25 million deal. Burford spent a year with head coach Klint Kubiak in San Francisco (2023), and that dynamic isn’t going to hurt his chances of cracking the starting lineup.
If Zuhn also factors into the mix, it will be interesting to see what the coaching staff does with Powers-Johnson and the promising rookies Spytek drafted a year ago.
Powers-Johnson has been tossed around as a potential trade candidate, but to this point it seems like that noise has mostly been coming from outside the building.
x: @raidersbeat
Pete Carroll hired his inexperienced unproven son as offensive line coach. Any questions? Dennison will likely right the ship.