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How bad do the Las Vegas Raiders actually need help on the O-line?

By Alexander Monfreda

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 14: Guard Alex Bars #64, offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood #70, quarterback Chase Garbers #15 and guards John Simpson #76 and Lester Cotton Sr. #67 of the Las Vegas Raiders stand on the sideline as the American national anthem is performed before a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 14: Guard Alex Bars #64, offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood #70, quarterback Chase Garbers #15 and guards John Simpson #76 and Lester Cotton Sr. #67 of the Las Vegas Raiders stand on the sideline as the American national anthem is performed before a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 24: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17, head coach Josh McDaniels, and quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 24, 2022, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 24: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17, head coach Josh McDaniels, and quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 24, 2022, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Every unit on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster seemed to be addressed this offseason, all except for one: The offensive line. Does it need to be addressed, though?

The Raiders have done a marvelous job repairing various units since the duo of Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels came to town. The team went into the offseason with a glaring need for wideout talent, and just like that, the Silver and Black acquired the top wideout across the league. In addition, Las Vegas also agreed to terms with playmakers Mack Hollins and Keelan Cole.

On the other side of the ball, adding coverage specialist Duron Harmon to the safety room should go a long way in masking the Raiders’ Achilles’ heel on defense: Jonathan Abram’s [lack of] coverage skills. Jayon Brown and Rock Ya-Sin, the latter posting the lowest allowed completion percentage in man coverage last season (26.7%), are game changers on paper as well.

There is one unit that could use some love that went virtually untouched by the Raiders’ new regime, though. Of course, I’m talking about the offensive line.

In 2021, the Raiders offensive line was ranked in the bottom 5 per Pro Football Focus. 3-of-5 starters earned grades south of 56, with Andre James hitting the 60 mark due to phenomenal play in the latter half of the season.

All this said I ask the question, how bad do the Raiders actually need O-line help? Surprisingly, the situation may not be as desperate as it seems on the surface. Let’s discuss exactly what I mean.

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