Pete Carroll's worst decision as the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach was hiring his son, Brennan, to be the team's offensive line coach. Klint Kubiak's best decision so far has seemingly been hiring Rick Dennison and his band of helpers to fill that same role.
Las Vegas didn't do much to address offensive tackle this offseason, as most of the reinforcements came on the interior. Tyler Linderbaum was the biggest addition, and Spencer Burford was also a sneaky-good signing for a room with Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers already in it.
Simply put, the ceiling and floor are much higher for the Raiders at center and guard this year, and the depth is way better. So, let's break it down player-by-player and see what all Las Vegas fans may be getting themselves into this year with this group. And let's make a bold prediction for each player.
Previewing Las Vegas Raiders' IOL room before the 2026 NFL season
Tyler Linderbaum, C
Linderbaum is nothing special in pass protection, but he gets the job done and helps out his guards, which is all you can ask of a center. And his elite, oftentimes otherworldly contributions in the run game more than make up for being merely above average and not elite as a pass-blocker.
His mobility helps him move defenders in the run game, and Linderbaum's knack for getting to the second level and finding blocks in space to thrust his running backs for explosive plays will be a godsend for this Raiders offensive line and backfield.
Not to mention, Linderbaum is a football genius with incredible communication skills. He diagnoses defenses quickly and accurately, taking the pressure off his quarterback and setting the entire offense up for success. Linderbaum is both a connector and a multiplier.
This may be the best free agent signing that Las Vegas has made in recent memory if all goes according to plan, and he'll be worth every dollar of his historic three-year, $81 million pact.
Bold prediction: Linderbaum makes his first All-Pro team.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, RG
Nobody has ever denied Powers-Johnson's talent, but something has clearly been holding him back thus far in his Raiders career. Like Linderbaum, Powers-Johnson takes his lumps in the passing game, as he sometimes gets overzealous and lets defensive linemen into the backfield.
His one-of-a-kind intensity, passion and grit can be a double-edged sword in that way. If Dennison and Co. figure out a way to help him hone that superpower, though, then Las Vegas may have its next great guard.
Powers-Johnson may not have the ID skills to be a center, as some thought coming out of college. But letting him run a bit more buck wild at guard can play to his strengths. He can toss people around in the run game while climbing to the second level and be part of more combo blocks, not 1-on-1s.
Health is always a concern for Powers-Johnson, as his nefarious injury history dating back to college followed him to the NFL. If he can get more under control this year, though, then that may solve that, at least in part. So, let's go with an optimistic, bold prediction, seeing as he's the starting right guard.
Bold prediction: Powers-Johnson starts all 17 games.
Spencer Burford, LG
Burford wasn't a "sexy" signing, per se, but his familiarity with Kubiak clearly gave him an advantage this preseason, and he carved out a starting role at left guard. At his price, that's a steal. He'll also have a fairly easy job, all things considered, working between Linderbaum and Kolton Miller.
The problem is that, while the staff seems to be high on him and never really batted an eye about him being a first-teamer, Burford didn't play particularly well in his 32 preseason snaps, and his history indicates that he may be the weak link on this offensive line.
Just like Linderbaum and Powers-Johnson, Burford is a better run-blocker than pass protector. The problem is that we're splitting hairs with those two. With Burford, it's a legitimate concern because he hasn't proven to be all that great a run-blocker either, unlike Linderbaum and Powers-Johnson.
Don't get me wrong, Burford may be a fine starter, albeit nothing special. Maybe this is a perfect situation for him, and he thrives, but his history doesn't necessarily indicate that he will. So, let's hope that this bold prediction is wrong, but maybe it's not all that bold to begin with.
Bold prediction: Burford gets benched at some point this season.
Caleb Rogers, G
Rogers put up a good fight to be the starting right guard, but Powers-Johnson edged him out. If either of the starting guards goes down, though, Rogers should be the first person to sub in on either side, and that's not the worst spot for him to be in.
He had some "wow" moments as a run-blocker this preseason to pair with just one pressure allowed in 51 pass-blocking snaps. Rogers has improved dramatically, and Kubiak has called him a starting-level player, so something tells me it won't be long until we see him in that role.
Bold prediction: Rogers starts 8 or more games in 2026.
Atonio Mafi, G
Mafi didn't do all that much to earn his way onto the team, as the Raiders likely would have kept Jordan Meredith instead of him if the New York Jets hadn't come calling. And with so many young pieces on the interior, it's unknown what kind of role Mafi plays unless disaster strikes.
So, I don't think he'll be a mainstay on this active roster. Honestly, I am surprised that he hasn't already been swapped out for another player. Maybe this staff is way higher on him than the fanbase is, but Mafi just doesn't seem to be a big variable in this equation for Las Vegas.
Bold prediction: Mafi isn't on the active roster in October (or even by Week 2).
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