The Raiders landed PFR’s No. 1-ranked free agent, former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, when the negotiating window opened March 9. To reel in Linderbaum, the Raiders submitted a three-year, $81MM offer – the richest in the history of his position. Former Raiders head coach Pete Carroll wishes they would have been that aggressive in addressing their offensive line last offseason. During Carroll’s lone season in Las Vegas, the team finished 3-14 and allowed the most sacks in the NFL (64).
Discussing the Raiders’ 2025 O-line with ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Carroll observed: “Our offensive guys up front, from the last couple of years, we got murdered. We needed to upgrade that more than we did. It didn’t happen in the draft, and it didn’t happen in the offseason.”
The Raiders signed veteran interior lineman Alex Cappa for two years and $11MM last offseason, but they have already bailed on that investment. Meanwhile, third-round rookies Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant combined for just 15 appearances. Rogers started in all six games at right guard, but Grant – a tackle – was on the field for a mere 59 offensive snaps.
Now looking to further improve a line that Pro Football Focus rated as the worst in the league, the Raiders are expected to focus on the area in the draft. “They’re going to draft a tackle day one, and they’ll add a guard,” one general manager told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. “The line was terrible. They couldn’t (run) block or (pass) protect.”
The GM made those comments before the Raiders’ trade with the Ravens for Maxx Crosby collapsed. Had it gone through, the Raiders would have collected two first-rounders for Crosby, including the 14th overall pick this year. They are now out of the running for a Day 1 offensive tackle unless they acquire another first-rounder. The Raiders are considered shoo-ins to use their top pick, No. 1 overall, on former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders have an established left tackle in Kolton Miller, though the 30-year-old missed 13 games in 2025 with a high ankle sprain and a hairline fracture. Miller is on schedule in his recovery, however, and should be ready for OTAs, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. Right tackle DJ Glaze has started in 31 of career 34 games, including all 17 last year, though the Raiders could attempt to upgrade on the former third-rounder in the draft.
At guard, Las Vegas lost a starter when Dylan Parham chose the Jets in free agency, but the team brought in former 49er Spencer Burford to compete for a spot. Rogers, Burford, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Jordan Meredith are all candidates for the two starting guard jobs, which could change depending on how the draft unfolds. It would be optimal for the Raiders to continue building up their line to benefit Mendoza and second-year running back Ashton Jeanty.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- There was a changing of the guard at linebacker in Cincinnati in 2025. Not only did the Bengals release Germaine Pratt prior to the season, but they traded the now-retired Logan Wilson to the Cowboys before the Nov. 4 deadline. The Wilson swap came after rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter took over as the Bengals’ primary linebackers. Considering the Bengals have not made any notable moves at the position this offseason, it appears Knight and Carter will continue to lead their LBs in 2026, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes. Kaden Elliss and Leo Chenal were among potential free agent options, but the Bengals did not aggressively pursue either player, according to Dehner. Elliss signed with the Saints on a three-year, $33MM deal, while Chenal took the Commanders’ three-year, $24.75MM offer.
- Quarterback Justin Fields would have played 2026 on a $20MM base salary had there been no adjustments to the two-year, $40MM pact the Jets gave him last offseason. Instead, after the Jets traded Fields to the Chiefs for a sixth-rounder on Monday, he will earn $11MM. The Jets will give Fields an $8MM signing bonus, while the Chiefs will pay his fully guaranteed $3MM salary, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert‘s one-year pact with the Dolphins is a veteran salary benefit deal worth $1.4MM, including $1.26MM in guarantees, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 relays. Despite the minor investment, the former Cowboy could play a big role in a Miami receiving corps that no longer includes the traded Jaylen Waddle or the released Tyreek Hill. Tolbert put up career highs with 49 catches, 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, but his numbers plummeted last season thanks to the Cowboys’ addition of George Pickens.