The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season ended with the league’s worst record and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. So, was there a central reason?
The offensive line was a major contributing factor to the team’s struggles. It was the closest representation of a “central reason.” The group was not just overmatched; it was disjointed, and Geno Smith paid for it with too many clean hits and too many sacks.
The unit looked broken on Sundays, and digging deeper, it revealed it was that bad—with coaching missteps that strained trust in the room and slowed the growth of young players.
Why did the Raiders regress so much?
The numbers matched the eye test. The Raiders ranked near the bottom of the league in pass protection. Pressure arrived fast. Drives stalled early.
Geno Smith’s mobility limited some damage. It could not fix the core problem. The line failed to sustain blocks in the pass game and the run game. Pro Football Focus grades told the same story: uneven run blocking, too many free rushers, and too few snaps with control up front.
That spotlight turned to former offensive line coach Brennan Carroll. He arrived as part of a high-profile 2025 overhaul that included his father, head coach Pete Carroll, and questions about the hire followed immediately. Late in the season, reports circulated—and agents echoed them after the season—that linemen held meetings without coaches and worked directly with Smith on protections and adjustments. When players feel they have to bypass the staff to keep the offense functional, it reads as an indictment of the coaching.
The failures were not limited to veterans…
The staff also struggled to develop the 2025 rookie class up front, despite a major investment. The Raiders used back-to-back third-round picks (Nos. 98 and 99) on guard Caleb Rogers (Texas Tech) and tackle Charles Grant (William & Mary). Both were drafted for upside and athletic traits.
Rogers flashed power, but his technique was inconsistent. He also made avoidable assignment errors. Grant improved late, but he often struggled with footwork and hand placement. Those are coachable issues. They lingered far too long.
After just one season, Pete was fired, and the reset has already begun. Brennan is out, and a new head coach is coming with their staff. The Raiders now get a clean shot at rebuilding the line with better coaching, real accountability, and a development plan that fits the investment.
Looming personnel decisions…
- Who should stay: Kolton Miller remains the cornerstone—a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle when healthy, with elite pass-blocking upside. Young interior players such as Dylan Parham and Jackson Powers-Johnson demonstrated promising performances despite the chaos, and they should continue to grow under improved coaching. The 2025 rookies, Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant, also warrant patience; their physical tools are too promising to abandon after one poorly coached year. With proper guidance, they could emerge as starters.
- Who needs to go: Veterans like Forsythe and Cappa need to go. Regardless of scheme or coaching, anyone could see the play on the field and knew these two were stealing time from rookies who needed development.
With a new head coach on the horizon and the likely selection of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, the Raiders face a critical decision. Mendoza’s accuracy, poise, and improved decision-making position him as the top prospect. He also cut down on sacks in college. Still, he is not a fix by himself.
Smith took too much punishment in 2025 behind a line that could not hold up, a familiar problem from his Seattle tenure when poor protection sped up reads and squeezed the downfield game. If the Raiders want Mendoza to develop, they have to keep him clean. That starts up front.
The next staff will get a reset, but it needs a plan. The scheme should match the personnel, with more zone concepts in the run game and a quicker passing rhythm to reduce exposure. Pre-snap communication has to improve, too. Even then, coaching and structure will not be enough without better players. The Raiders must add proven talent, and the 2026 free-agent market could provide premium help if the front office is willing to invest.
Free agency targets for the Raiders…
This year’s market could feature premium help in the middle, starting with Tyler Linderbaum. The Baltimore Ravens declined his expensive fifth-year option, positioning him for free agency unless he signs an extension or receives a tag.
If he gets to the open market, Linderbaum is the type of stabilizer the Raiders should chase. He is athletic, technically sound and consistent in pass protection, and he also brings the kind of pre-snap communication a rookie quarterback needs. Adding him would steady the interior, improve protections, and give Fernando Mendoza a reliable organizer up front.
Other prime candidates include:
- Teven Jenkins (G, Browns)—A mauler with nasty finishing ability and versatility.
- Braden Smith (OT, Colts)—Proven right tackle with power and consistency.
- Rasheed Walker (OT, Packers)—Young, athletic swing tackle with starting upside.
- Jermaine Eluemunor (OT, Giants)—A Raiders alum who knows the building; reliable in pass protection.
The Raiders should have the flexibility to be aggressive after the reset. If Linderbaum reaches the market, pairing a splash signing at center with one more starter-level addition at guard or tackle could change the unit fast. It would also give Mendoza a steadier pocket and a clearer protection plan from Week 1.
Free agency should not be the only answer. The Raiders also need to spend Day 2 picks on the trenches, where the draft typically offers usable depth and long-term starters. Do not put Mendoza in a patchwork setup and call it “development.” Build the line first. Let the quarterback grow once the floor is stable.
This is bigger than 2026. The 2025 collapse exposed coaching problems, stalled rookie development and real personnel gaps. The Raiders now have a clean slate, premium draft capital and resources to fix it. If they treat the offensive line as optional, the same story will repeat, with another young quarterback taking hits and losing time. The path is simple: invest, teach and protect the future.
*Top Photo: Getty Images