Silver and Black Pride is bringing back the game-day discussions on The FEED this season, where we’ll focus on and talk about a specific topic for each Las Vegas Raiders game. This won’t replace our open thread on game days, which is designed to focus on the game as a whole.
For the Raiders’ Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, we’ll be paying close attention to how much Las Vegas’ offensive line has actually improved from last year.
It’s no secret that the Raiders’ offensive line was downright
putrid during the 2025 season. Hence why the front office made Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history by $9 million per year, and why head coach Klint Kubiak brought over long-time offensive line coach Rich Dennison this offseason. The Silver and Black will also get Kolton Miller back after Miller missed 13 out of 17 games with an ankle injury a year ago.
All of that, plus a solid showing in the preseason, gives reason for optimism when it comes to the trenches in Las Vegas. However, now it’s time to prove it by getting results on the field when the competition level rises and the games actually count. And there are still plenty of question marks within the unit.
Free-agent signing Spencer Burford was never challenged for the starting left guard spot despite struggling to stick as a starter during his last two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Burford likely knows Kubiak’s offense better than anyone else on the line, having worked with Kubiak in San Francisco for a year (2023) and playing in a similar system under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. But is that enough to justify a starting spot, and has the fifth-year pro turned the corner?
Meanwhile, 2024 draftees Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze are slated to man the right guard and right tackle spots, respectively. Both players have shown flashes, primarily during their rookie campaigns, but have struggled to be consistent so far.
Powers-Johnson even had to fend off Caleb Rogers to keep his spot in the starting lineup. There was a moment when it seemed rookie Trey Zuhn III might push Glaze, but the latter took most, if not all, of the first-team reps at right tackle during training camp. So, it’s certainly worth keeping tabs on the right side of the line to see how the third-year pros look.
Granted, the Dolphins don’t have many defensive linemen who should keep opposing offenses up at night. Like the Raiders, they hit the reset button in the offseason and moved on several notable players. Edge rusher Bradley Chubb led Miami with 8.5 sacks in 2025, three more than anyone else, but the 30-year-old was a salary cap casualty. However, that creates an opportunity for 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson to take on a bigger role.
Robinson battled injuries and regressed last season with just four sacks, but he had six sacks and was one of the best rookie pass-rushers just two years ago. The Penn State product is known for his speed and athleticism on the edge, which has been one of Glaze’s issues.
In the running game and on the interior, Burford and Powers-Johnson will be tested by Miami’s defensive tackle Zach Sieler. The nine-year pro doesn’t get a ton of attention in the media, but he’s posted double-digit TFLs in each of the last three seasons and four out of the last six. Also, Sieler is coming off a down year as a pass rusher, but he’s been plenty productive in that department, too. Having Linderbaum at center can help stabilize the interior offensive line, but the guards also have to hold up their end of the bargain.
So, we’ll be focusing on how the Raiders’ offensive line performs against the Dolphins in this week’s game day discussion over on The FEED. The game kicks off at 1:25 p.m. PST and will air on FOX (check your local listings). I look forward to talkin’ some ball with y’all!
