The Las Vegas Raiders have had some incredible offensive linemen in their storied history, but who were the top 15?
Over the last 59 years, the Silver and Black have had some incredible players don the historic Las Vegas Raiders logo on fall Sundays. Legends like Marcus Allen, Ken Stabler and many others benefited heavily from monster offensive lines up front. Unfortunately, the guys doing the dirty work are rather unheralded and often forgotten, but not today.
Looking back over the course of the franchise’s history, it is easy to pinpoint some legendary players who manned the front line. For the purposes of this ranking, we are ranking players based on their talent, accolades and time with the team.
Disclaimer, it is nearly impossible to rank players across eras, as the sport and the way it is played is constantly evolving. Players could get away with a lot more in the 1970s compared to today’s NFL, where flags are thrown on nearly every down.
Let’s start with a few honorable mentions. Although great in their own right, guys like George Buehler and Steve Sylvester just miss out on the cut. Without any further ado, here is our top 15 offensive linemen in Raiders history.
Best offensive lineman in Raiders history: 15. Max Montoya
When people think of Max Montoya, they normally remember his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team that drafted him back in 1979.
Montoya spent 11 years in the old AFC Central before moving to Los Angeles to join the Raiders. By the time the Raiders acquired Montoya, he was an established NFL starter and three-time Pro-Bowler with the Bengals.
Montoya’s stellar play did not stop because he switched teams. He quickly became a vital member of the Raiders’ offensive line in the early 1990s. He started in four of his five seasons with the team, only failing to win the starting job in 1994 at 38-years-old in what was his final professional season.
Montoya earned Pro Bowl honors with the Raiders in 1993, his last season as a full-time starter, bringing his career total to four Pro Bowls. He also played in 11 total playoff games, five of which came with the Raiders and two Super Bowls, both coming as a member of the Bengals.
Lacking the longevity with the team, Montoya lands 15th on the list of the greatest linemen in Raiders history. That being said, Montoya was an excellent interior offensive linemen for two AFC franchises for well over a decade combined.