Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to expect from the new-look offensive line
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have revamped their offensive line for the 2021 NFL season, and here are some realistic expectations for the group in Year 1.
The Las Vegas Raiders decided changes were needed along the offensive line this offseason, and they made a bunch of big moves, including trading away Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, and Trent Brown. Now, the offensive line has a brand new look, and new faces will have to come in and show that the team made the right decision to blow up the position group.
With that said, here are three things to expect from the new-look offensive line in 2021.
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to expect from the new-look offensive line
Alex Leatherwood is going to have growing pains
When the Raiders selected Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 overall pick in the first round this past April, it was met with some questions. In fact, the panelists on ESPN were at a loss for words, as many felt this was a guy who could have been had in the second round.
Still, Leatherwood comes from an elite program, where he was a key member of one of the best offensive lines in college football. Playing at Alabama, the expectations are always high, and for the most part, Leatherwood played very well under head coach Nick Saban.
As a rookie, you can expect growing pains from Leatherwood, much like we saw from Kolton Miller during the 2018 NFL season. Going from the college game to the NFL is hard no matter what position you play, but for an offensive tackle, the changes can be devastating, especially in Year 1.