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4 Las Vegas Raiders who really need to step up in 2022

By Sean Basile

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE - This image has been converted to black and white) Oakland Raiders helmet is seen on the field after the game between Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE - This image has been converted to black and white) Oakland Raiders helmet is seen on the field after the game between Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Leatherwood (70) reacts after their loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Leatherwood (70) reacts after their loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Las Vegas Raiders who really need to step up in 2022

No. 2: Alex Leatherwood

We’re going to turn back to the analytics again for this one because offensive linemen are hlinemen’gauge on a statistical level without PFF’s work. Here are some rookie linemen PFF grades for the 2021 regular season:

Creed Humphrey- 91.4
Rashawn Slater- 83.6
Penei Sewell- 77.0
Sam Cosmi- 74.9
Trey Smith- 72.3
Christian Darrisaw- 71.9
Walker Little- 68.5
Quinn Meinerz- 67.4
Landon Dickerson- 67.3
Alijah Vera-Tucker- 66.8
Spencer Brown- 62.6
Brady Christensen- 61.6
Dan Moore Jr.- 57.8
Jackson Carman- 56.3
Royce Newman- 55.7
Kendrick Green- 52.4
Liam Eichenberg- 50.8
Jalen Mayfield- 49.2
Teven Jenkins- 47.5

That right there is a list of almost 20 rookie offensive linemen on a vast range of grades, and as it turns out, Leatherwood scored a worse grade than every single one of them despite being drafted before all but three. PFF graded him at 45.0 in 2021, and he’s also recorded as having allowed 8 sacks, which was 2nd-worst last year and having committed 14 penalties, which was 3rd-worst last year at his position.

There’s obviously still a lot of football left to be played, and PFF is just one source of information, but I think it’s fair at this moment to say things are not looking that great for the Raiders’ former number one pick.

He already had John Simpson, Brandon Parker, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Alex Bars behind him at right guard and right tackle, but now add a very underrated lineman in Dylan Parham to the mix. Had Brandon Parker not gotten hurt in the preseason opener, the starting offensive line could have looked like this.

LT Kolton Miller
LG John Simpson
C Andre James
RG Dylan Parham
RT Brandon Parker

I think Leatherwood is in deep trouble right now and he HAS to step up this season.

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