If the Raiders are going to be a successful team during the 2021 season, it will likely be due to their offensive line. The entire team is built around running the ball and having an offensive line that can dominate up front. But after several huge offseason moves, how do they measure up to the rest of the NFL?
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, the site ranked all 32 offensive lines heading into the 2021 season. Unfortunately, the Raiders ranked among the league’s worst units, coming in at No. 25.
The two biggest areas of concern for the Raiders (according to PFF) are at right guard and center. While Denzelle Good returns, there are questions about his ceiling as a player. And a center, the team is banking on an unproven Andre James to take a leap.
Here is a snippet of their thoughts on those two problematic spots:
“The right guard spot will be manned by Denzelle Good, who is coming off a career-high 958 snaps en route to a 56.7 grade, good for 59th out of 84 qualifiers. With center Rodney Hudson being traded, center will be a battle between Andre James and Nick Martin. James has struggled to a 23.4 overall grade on 117 career snaps, while Martin has been a solid pass protector and a below-average run blocker in his four years as a starter with the Texans. Even with Hudson declining in recent years, it will be tough to match his performance.”
If James (or Nick Martin) can prove to be a stable option at center, suddenly, this offensive line looks a whole lot better. They also desperately need Richie Incognito to stay healthy as he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber player when he’s on the field.
This unit certainly doesn’t lack talent, but it’s time for them to all take the next step and reward the front office’s faith in their roster building. How this group performs will decide if the Raiders make or miss the playoffs in 2021.
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