The Raiders’ offensive line is getting a full reset, and the biggest reason is obvious: 64 sacks in 2025 is a brutal number to carry into a new season. Whether Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza is under center in 2026, Las Vegas has to be far better up front, and new head coach Klint Kubiak is being brought in with that exact mission in mind.
Kubiak has already shown he can help lift offensive line play, and the Raiders have made a major move at center to try to stabilize the group. With that as the backdrop, here’s how the five projected starters stack up from strongest to weakest.
At the top sits Tyler Linderbaum, the centerpiece of the overhaul. Las Vegas signed him to a market-resetting contract that made him the highest-paid center in NFL history, and the expectation is that he’ll be elite right away.
That matters even more because center was a major problem area in 2025. The Raiders want Linderbaum to be the steady veteran in the middle while Mendoza develops into a franchise quarterback.
Kolton Miller comes next, and for good reason. The Raiders felt his absence badly after his season-ending injury last year, and now that he’s healthy again, he should reclaim his spot as a major force at left tackle. Protecting the blind side is still one of the most important jobs on the line, and Miller remains a high-level blocker.
Jackson Powers-Johnson lands third on the list. He’s locked in as the starting right guard now, and after spending his rookie season in 2024 bouncing between guard and center, this should be a more comfortable setup for him. The Raiders also have sophomore Caleb Rogers as a backup, which gives them strong depth at the spot.
Spencer Burford checks in at No. 4.
Las Vegas brought him in during free agency to take over for Dylan Parham, and his profile is pretty clear: he’s been a league-average starter and has nearly 40 starts under his belt. There’s also some built-in familiarity here, since Burford previously played for Kubiak in San Francisco and knows offensive line coach Rick Dennison’s zone-blocking system.
DJ Glaze rounds out the group at right tackle, and he’s the one spot that still raises real concern. He’s coming off two disappointing NFL seasons, and the hope is that Kubiak and Dennison can help him take a step forward. The Raiders do have sophomore third-round pick Charles Grant waiting as a backup tackle, but for now Glaze is the weakest link in the projected starting five.
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