For the Las Vegas Raiders to build the right way, they need to build up the trenches. The team is expected to bring in several big-ticket offensive linemen in free agency.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of roster holes to fill before the team is in playoff contention again, but one position group stands out among the rest.
The Raiders had a rough 2025 season, finishing 3-14 and securing the coveted No. 1 pick in this year’s National Football League draft. The coaching staff was a disaster, the offense couldn’t score points and the defense couldn’t keep points off the scoreboard.
The offensive line was horrendous outside of standout left tackle Kolton Miller, who unfortunately didn’t play the full season due to injury, but his presence wouldn’t have made much difference as the whole unit struggled. Offensive line is easily the top priority for general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak as they embark on rebuilding the team from the ground up. That starts in the trenches.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden believes that the O-line is the biggest need for the Raiders this offseason and improving the interior as well as at right tackle is imperative to incoming quarterback Fernando Mendoza and running back Ashton Jeanty having success in 2026.
“The Raiders ranked 22nd in run block and pass block win rate in 2025,” McFadden wrote Friday. “Quarterback Geno Smith was sacked 55 times, while running back Ashton Jeanty rarely had space to work with.
“If Las Vegas wants potential top pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza to have a solid rookie season and Jeanty to take a leap in Year 2, they must invest in improving the interior line and adding a right tackle who can compete with starter DJ Glaze, who struggled last season.”
Investing in the offensive line is the best way to ensure those two things: a successful first season for Mendoza and a pivotal growth year for Jeanty.
Mendoza will have some weapons around him, including Jeanty, but he would be more likely to have a season closer to what Smith had in 2025 than to have success if the Raiders don’t get him some protection on the interior.
And that’s exactly what McFadden predicts the Raiders will do. Two free agent centers stand out in this cycle, former Baltimore Raven Tyler Linderbaum and former Buffalo Bill Connor McGovern, with Linderbaum expected to set the market at $20-25 million per-season value.
The Raiders have the second-most salary cap space at just under $90 million, so they could have their pick and even overpay either guy to ensure they land their preferred choice. McFadden believes McGovern and former Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson will be on Las Vegas’ radar.
“Anticipate the Raiders to add at least two interior linemen in free agency. Players such as guard Zion Johnson and center Connor McGovern are players to watch. Pairing one of them with left tackle Kolton Miller and right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson puts the Raiders in a better position than they were last season.”
This is a huge opportunity for the Raiders to build a great foundation to go along with its offensive playmakers, so expect Spytek and Kubiak to make a lot of moves.