The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into a pivotal offseason-one that feels less like a tune-up and more like a full engine rebuild. After a 3-14 campaign that saw Pete Carroll's brief tenure come to an abrupt end, the message from the front office is clear: it’s time to reset, and it starts in the trenches.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-the offensive line was a major problem last season. Ranked dead last by Pro Football Focus, this unit struggled to protect the quarterback, open up running lanes, or provide any kind of stability up front. Geno Smith, who took the brunt of those issues under center, likely isn’t sending thank-you notes to his blockers anytime soon.
The Raiders tried to patch things up last offseason with a handful of veteran signings, but most of those moves focused on the defensive side of the ball. The lone addition to the offensive line was guard Alex Cappa, and unfortunately, that didn’t pan out. Cappa finished 38th out of 40 qualifying guards in 2025, a tough look for a line that was already under scrutiny.
If Las Vegas is serious about building a sustainable offense, the foundation has to be the offensive line. General Manager John Spytek and new Head Coach Klint Kubiak know this.
You don’t develop a young quarterback by throwing him into the fire behind a leaky front five. You do it by giving him time, protection, and a reliable run game to lean on.
And speaking of quarterbacks, while the team is keeping its draft plans close to the vest, all signs point to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza being the guy. If that’s the case, then protecting their investment becomes priority number one.
Enter Isaac Seumalo.
The 32-year-old guard has been a rock for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past few seasons, and he checks a lot of boxes for what the Raiders need: veteran leadership, consistent play, and a skill set that fits perfectly with Kubiak’s offensive philosophy.
Kubiak is known for leaning on play-action concepts, which require a run game that can keep defenses honest and linemen who can sell the fake without compromising protection. That’s exactly where Seumalo thrives.
According to PFF, Seumalo ranks in the 82nd percentile in gap run blocking and an even more impressive 92nd percentile in zone schemes. But his real standout trait?
Play-action pass protection. Over the past three seasons, he’s earned the fourth-highest PFF pass-blocking grade (87.8) among all guards in play-action situations.
That’s not just good-that’s elite.
And his 2025 numbers back it up. Seumalo didn’t commit a single penalty, allowed just three sacks, and surrendered only one quarterback hit across 15 total pressures. That kind of discipline and reliability is exactly what a young quarterback needs in front of him.
The Raiders have a lot of holes to fill, but shoring up the interior of the offensive line should be at the top of the list. Bringing in Seumalo wouldn’t just be a smart football move-it would be a statement that this team is serious about building the right way.
If Las Vegas wants to turn the page and give Mendoza the best shot at a successful rookie campaign, it starts with protecting him. And Isaac Seumalo might just be the anchor this offensive line has been missing.