Breaking down Las Vegas Raiders Offensive Guard Battle

Spencer Burford

• Burford likely has the upper hand here, starting at LG in OTA’s, and it will be a brutal battle throughout camp. The former 2022 4th rounder will turn 26 in July, and he’s had a very up and down career. He played 833 snaps in 2022 allowing 4 sacks and 18 pressures with 5 penalties all at right guard. In 2023, he played 900 snaps allowing 5 sacks, 37 pressures, 9 penalties and all his snaps came again at RG. Burford was benched in 2024 playing in just 113 snaps, and then he played in another 577 snaps in 2025 allowing 2 sacks, 31 pressures, and 2 penalties this time at left guard. Burford saw strides at left guard, the former college LT/LG looked natural in his footwork, and his hand combat skills looked better. Burford’s pressure rate was still high at 5% which was the highest of his career, though he improved as a run blocker with 4.4 yards per carry lead blocking. Burford has experience working with a system similar to that of Klint Kubiak’s back in San Francisco. Burford hasn’t necessarily lived up to his career draft standing, and he very easily can tap back into his athleticism, power, and footwork with more experience on the left side. Burford stands a step below Powers-Johnson, but still has the edge up for his experience and run blockig.

Caleb Rogers

• Rogers is likely the biggest competition for Burford, assuming Powers-Johnson has one spot locked up. Rogers is a sensational athlete, he ranked in the 99th percentile for all offensive guards in NFL history, and he’s an excellent mover in short area’s. Rogers fires off the ball quickly, has great strength in his core and lower body, and he’ll need to improve his balance, hand combat skills, but overall projects as a future starting guard with better coaching. Rogers allowed 3 sacks, 3 hits, and 11 pressures (4% rate) with a penalty in 284 snaps last season, though 2 sacks and 4 pressures came in week 18 vs the Chiefs and Chris Jones. Rogers has good size, as a former college tackle, though he did struggle at times in the run game to adjust to the NFL level, would lunge, and didn’t seal blocks as well as you’d like. Rogers always profiled best as a zone blocker, compared to the Raiders gap blocking in 2025, so ending up back in a system that will allow him to get into space and seal better with the usage of his athleticism should benefit his career well. He’ll turn 25 in October, and Rogers has college experience working on the left side, but was far better when allowed to work on the right side and looks far more natural in his stance & footwork. With Powers-Johnson the likely starting RG, Rogers will need to adapt to the left side quickly, or force his way into the lineup on the right side and put Powers-Johnson on the left.

Trey Zuhn III

• Zuhn may be in competition for the Raiders starting RT position, but given comments from Klint Kubiak I’d expect that DJ Glaze would need to either get injured or have a terrible off-season to lose his spot. The Raiders 2026 3rd rounder, Zuhn will likely transition into the interior but has a chance to also backup the Raiders at RT as well, with Charles Grant at LT. Las Vegas will likely work the soon to be 24 year old at both guard and tackle across workouts, OTA’s, and training camp. Zuhn has been a natural on the left side in his career with 3153 snaps coming at LT in college, though his below average arm length will likely kick him into guard. Zuhn will also work the Raiders as a backup center, where he looked excellent in his very limited time during the 2025 season, but was far often considered a top center prospect in the class. Zuhn has great power, a good frame, and he moves well, also ranking inside the 99th percentile for all NFL G in history. Zuhn’s major issues extend to his ability to work the corner, kickstep, and slide in pass protection at T with adequate hip and knee flexibility, though he should excel on the interior and likely projects as a starting G/C or high end 6th lineman for the majority of his career. I’d expect Zuhn to see some snaps throughout his rookie season, but I don’t think he wins the starting guard spot yet, but mid-season things may be different.

Jordan Meredith

• I can’t leave this article in good faith without discussing Meredith, who has some bad taste in Raiders fan circle, and not for terrible reason. The Raiders attempted to fix their center issues in 2025, not by having Jackson Powers-Johnson or Dylan Parham play center, but by forcing Meredith, who neve played the position even extending back to high school, attempt the move. Shockingly, it went about as terrible as it could. Meredith allowed a sack & 8 pressures with 4 penalties though 539 snaps at center, but he struggled heavily to maintain consistent pass protection, couldn’t anchor, and his run blocking was bad. Meredith has never been super strong, he’s won with technique and athleticism, and Las Vegas attempted to make him a strong combo blocker at C which wouldn’t work. Meredith eventually switched back to RG in his final two games, but a nagging lower body injury along with wrecked confidence caused him to allow 3 sacks and 12 pressures in just 137 snaps. Meredith excelled in a wide zone system, he played 574 snaps for Las Vegas in 2024, a system nearly identically to what Las Vegas will run in 2026, allowing just 9 pressures (1.2% pressure rate) at both LG and RG. Meredith moves well, he comes off the ball well, and he can get into space quickly. Meredith has moved back to G, and likely will maintain his role as a swing interior offensive lineman, but I’d imagine he gives a strong chance to start at G, or will spot start throughout the season. The veteran guard certainly will have an ability to play if he can repeat his performance in 2024 during the 2026 off-season.