Should the Las Vegas Raiders sign a premier guard, or draft a prospect?

Whether fans want to admit it or not, the Las Vegas Raiders offensive line needs help at guard, and the question is where to look for it.

In 2019, the offensive line for the Silver and Black was an absolute juggernaut, anchored by center Rodney Hudson and guard Richie Incognito. Kolton Miller quietly emerged as a quality left tackle, and Trent Brown was a force at right tackle, giving the Las Vegas Raiders a devastating offensive front.

Unfortunately, 2020 was a different story due to a myriad of reasons. Health, especially an injury to Incognito and Brown being taken out by COVID-19 and a ‘faulty’ IV, hindered the offensive line.

Quarterback Derek Carr had another efficient season despite these issues to his protection, but the run game suffered. The unit, especially Hudson, was bullied throughout the season in the run game, and while no one’s saying he regressed necessarily, Josh Jacobs averaging a concerning 3.9 yards per carry certainly was affected by this.

Missing Incognito hurt, but so did relying on a rookie guard such as John Simpson, who played well, but was a bit overmatched at times. Denzelle Good certainly stepped up when needed, but is he really a long-term solution?

Depending on how Raiders brass decides to handle the roster as far as cuts or financial destruction, there are only two options. Both are feasible and would have their benefits, especially considering how good Tom Cable has been in his role as offensive line coach.

Let’s take a closer look at the two scenarios.