Last season, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders led the National Football League in rushing behind many of the same offensive linemen that started for the Raiders during the 2023-24 season.
Last offseason, it was expected that all five of the Raiders' starting offensive linemen would return until they made the surprising decision to cut veteran offensive lineman Alex Bars and sign veteran guard Greg Van Roten.
During his first season in Las Vegas, Van Roten played 98 percent of the team's offensive snaps, totaling more than over 1,000 plays.
The Raiders' offensive line ranked near the top of the league after an entire season of play, and Van Roten was a big reason why. Van Roten totaled an 80.6 run-blocking grade on the season, ranking third among offensive guards in the National Football League.
That made Van Roten one of the most dependable players along the offensive line, especially considering the Raiders signed him to a deal worth a little more than $1.5 million on relatively short notice.
Van Roten's production and his ability to stay healthy for the long haul make him arguably one of their top free-agent priorities of the offseason. He joined the Raiders late in the offseason and seamlessly transitioned into the starting guard position.
The veteran offensive guard's presence became even more critical in the absence of left tackle Kolton Miller. If he and the Raiders can find contract terms suitable for both sides, re-signing Van Roten is all but a no-brainer.
Van Roten returning would make many people's jobs easier next season.
The decision on Van Roten will ultimately come down to who the Raiders hire Interim Coach Antonio Pierce as their permanent head coach.
If they decide to keep Interim Offensive Coordinator Bo Hardegree or bring in someone new, Van Roten's dependability will play a significant part in Las Vegas' decision on his future with the team.
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