With staple left tackle Kolton Miller and third-round phenom Dylan Parham, in addition to rookies Jackson Powers-Johnson and pass-rush specialist D.J. Glaze, the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offensive line had high expectations heading into the 2024 season. Two weeks through the new campaign, the unit has performed worse than any offensive line throughout the entirety of the National Football League (not exactly breaking Raiders news, we know).
Context here is important…
It’s important to give context here – in addition to Powers-Johnson and Glaze not touching the field yet, Miller and starting center Andre James are nursing injuries. Be that as it may, through two weeks, you won’t find a worse-performing offensive line through the NFL than that of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sin City’s pass protectors have surrendered nine sacks, averaging 4.5 per contest. This number ties the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers for most allowed sacks this season. However, while the Bears and 49ers have matched the Raiders’ nine sacks allowed this season, Las Vegas is the only team to have their offensive line, specifically, be responsible for that amount. No O-line by any team has been responsible for more than six; 33% less than Sin City.
Miller, the stud left tackle, has single-handedly allowed five sacks; no other offensive linemen league-wide has surrendered more than three. Thayer Munford, the team’s right tackle, has allowed a pair of sacks as well.
The unit hasn’t fared any better in run-blocking, either.
Through two weeks, Pro Football Focus‘ lowest-graded tackle, guard and center via run-blocking are all members of the Las Vegas Raiders. No tackle throughout the NFL has a worse run-block grade than Munford’s mark of 37.5, and no guard has earned a run-block grade lower than Andrus Peat’s 39.0. Lastly, there isn’t a center with a lower run-block grade than James’ mark of 44.3.
Raiders News: Rookies stand as promising solution
Although Jackson Powers-Johnson and D.J. Glaze haven’t taken a regular season snap yet, the two have shown promise at the NFL-level in their own ways.
Glaze took the field during all three of the Raiders’ preseason contests, allowing two pressures and a sack on 51 passing plays. His 69.4 pass-block grade tied with first-rounder Amarius Mims and sat 1.4 lower than Chargers’ rookie Joe Alt. Glaze’s pass-block grade narrowly beat out Saints’ tackle Taliese Fuaga, who earned a grade of 68.6 through the preseason.
As for Powers-Johnson, not many offensive line prospects from this year’s draft had a higher floor. And, luckily for the Raiders, Powers-Johnson returned to practice this past week after missing the entirety of both training camp and the preseason.
It may take the Oregon alum a few weeks to get adjusted to life in the NFL, but Las Vegas’ offensive line production should shoot up once he takes the field nonetheless. Upon returning, Powers-Johnson will relieve Cody Whitehair who has the sixth-worst run-block grade among guards. Whitehair has also allowed six pressures through two weeks.
In the meantime, Miller and James continue nursing injuries that have hampered their play. Sin City will benefit greatly once their left tackle and center are at full health.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/ Rick Scuteri