
The Raiders remain active into the second week of free agency. The team announced the signing of guard Spencer Burford on Tuesday. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 first reported an agreement was in the works.
Burford, 25, spent the first four years of his career in San Francisco. The 2022 fourth-rounder from Texas-San Antonio started in 29 of 30 games at right guard in his first two seasons. However, the addition of 2024 third-rounder Dominick Puni relegated Burford to the bench in his third year. Burford did not start in any of his 15 games then, but he returned to a regular role during a truncated 2025.
The 49ers dealt with injuries to Burford and Ben Bartch, both left guard options, last season. Although Burford was on IR with a knee injury from late September to early December, he started in nine of 11 appearances at left guard. Pro Football Focus rated Burford’s work 53rd among 79 qualified guards.
Burford visited with the Chargers on Sunday (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), but he will instead join the AFC West rival Raiders. In heading to Las Vegas, Burford will reunite with rookie Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the 49ers’ pass-game coordinator in 2023. Burford will at least give the Raiders experienced depth at guard, though he could compete for a starting job with Jordan Meredith and Jackson Powers-Johnson.
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