Pro Football Rumors
The Raiders wrapped up their mandatory minicamp last week and emerged from spring practices with a clearer idea of their new-look offensive line.
Three-fifths of the unit have long been set. Kolton Miller and Delmar Glaze are returning to their posts at left and right tackle, respectively, and big-money signing Tyler Linderbaum will take over at center. Both guard spots, though, are up for grabs.
Spencer Burford, who arrived via free agency in March, is currently favored for the starting left guard job that was held by Dylan Parham last year, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. Originally a 2022 fourth-round pick by the 49ers, Burford has started 38 games in his career, including 13 at right guard in 2023 while Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak was serving as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator.
In 2025, Burford started nine games at left guard for the 49ers and surrendered a pressure on 9.4% of his pass blocking opportunities, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 95.0 pass blocking efficiency (PBE) ranked dead-last among 87 guards who played at least 250 snaps.
The 25-year-old only signed a $3.3MM deal to come to Las Vegas this offseason, so he is not necessarily guaranteed a starting job – at least, financially. The Raiders also have former Patriots fifth-rounder Atonio Mafi, who started two games at left guard last year, as well as veteran Jordan Meredith and 2024 UDFA Will Putnam. Putnam saw a handful of snaps at left guard in 2025, but he and Meredith primarily played center. With that job locked down by Linderbaum, either could factor in the left guard competition, too. Meredith has almost 500 career snaps at the position, including six starts for the Raiders in 2024.
At right guard, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers are set to battle for the starting job, per Bonsignore. Powers-Johnson is coming off an ankle injury that ended his 2025 season after just seven starts, all at right guard. His 63.8 overall grade ranked 38th out of 81 guards, per PFF, and his 96.9 pass blocking efficiency ranked 49th.
Among the same group, Rogers, who started the last six games of the year at guard, ranked 48th with a 59.6 grade and 74th with a 95.9 pass blocking efficiency. The 2025 third-round pick impressed at mandatory minicamp, Bonsignore adds, and looks “ready to compete for a starting job at RG.”
Should Rogers win the gig, Powers-Johnson could be out of the starting lineup entirely. Theoretically, he could factor into the mix at left guard, where he lined up as a rookie, but that will be more difficult in practice given Burford’s apparent lead in that race.
Powers-Johnson could then become a valuable trade chip during the preseason. Position-versatile, starting-caliber offensive linemen are rarely available, much less that late in the year, even less with two years left on a rookie contract. And despite a disappointing start to his NFL career, Powers-Johnson was still dominant during his time at Oregon, including a Rimington...
