Raiders’ Rookie Charles Grant Deserves a Bigger Role Down the Stretch
The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season has been off the rails for a while now. Sitting at 2-12 and riding an eight-game losing streak, the team hit a new low in Sunday’s 31-0 shutout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
They managed just 75 total yards of offense - a staggering number that underscores just how tough things have been. Ironically, this losing streak started with another 31-0 loss, that one against the Kansas City Chiefs, where the Raiders posted only 95 yards of offense.
It’s been that kind of year.
While Pete Carroll has maintained a public posture of optimism, the product on the field tells a different story. The offense has sputtered, and the offensive line - particularly at the tackle spots - has been a consistent weak link.
Yet even with the season spiraling, the coaching staff has been slow to give their rookie linemen, Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant, extended opportunities. That’s finally starting to change, and the early returns are promising.
Caleb Rogers Proving He Belongs
Rogers, who was drafted just ahead of Grant, has seen more action in recent weeks and is beginning to make his case. Through limited snaps, he’s earned a 66.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, with a solid 74.7 in pass protection and a 57.9 in the run game. Those numbers aren’t elite, but for a rookie stepping into a struggling unit, they’re encouraging - especially when you consider the context.
Rogers has looked like a player who belongs, and that’s more than can be said for some of the veterans who’ve been starting all season.
Charles Grant Finally Gets a Taste
Grant, meanwhile, finally saw the field in Week 15 against the Eagles, logging a career-high five snaps in jumbo packages. That’s not much, but he made them count. One block in particular - where he stood up edge rusher Jaelen Phillips - caught the attention of teammates, coaches, and analysts alike.
Pete Carroll offered a measured review of Grant’s performance during Monday’s press conference.
“I did like his aggressiveness. I thought he looked tough.
He finished well, too. He kept his feet moving and drove the guy off the football a couple times.
It looked pretty good,” Carroll said. “Made a couple mistakes and all, but I thought -- we would like to see how we can find a way to use him.”
That’s a fair assessment for a player getting his first real taste of NFL action. Mistakes are part of the process, especially for rookies. What matters is that Grant showed physicality, effort, and flashes of potential - all things this offensive line has been sorely lacking.
Time to Shift the Focus to Development
Here’s the reality: the Raiders’ offensive line has been a problem all season. And while it’s easy to point fingers, the numbers speak for themselves.
Tackles Stone Forsythe and DJ Glaze are two of just three offensive linemen in the league who have allowed at least 10 sacks this season. That’s a tough stat to stomach, especially considering Forsythe played only one pass-blocking snap before Week 5.
Forsythe, 27 and in his fifth NFL season, has been a liability. Yet Carroll has continued to back him - perhaps in part due to their shared history in Seattle.
Glaze, at 23 and in his second year, is still developing and may have some upside left. But with the season essentially lost, there’s no reason not to give Grant a real shot to show what he can do.
If Grant struggles, so be it. That’s part of the learning curve.
But if he flashes the kind of potential we saw from Rogers, then the Raiders may have found another piece to build around up front. And let’s be honest - this team needs foundational pieces in the trenches.
Looking Ahead
With three games left in a season that’s already slipped away, the Raiders have an opportunity to shift their focus toward development. That means giving young players like Charles Grant real, meaningful reps - not just spot duty in jumbo sets.
The upside is clear: best-case scenario, Grant proves he’s ready to compete for a starting job in 2026. Worst-case?
He gains valuable experience that can help accelerate his growth.
Either way, there’s no downside to letting the rookie play.
The Raiders’ offensive line has been a revolving door of inconsistency all year. It’s time to start finding out who can be part of the solution. Charles Grant deserves his shot - and the next three weeks are the perfect time to give it to him.