Nov 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll before the game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Saving Grace in the Raiders' Offensive Line

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Fernando Alfaro-Donis | Last updated Dec 11, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders now have the second-best odds to land the number one overall pick after their latest Week 14 loss, according to Tankathon. This means that the Raiders have a clear incentive to lose every game for the rest of the season, to sweeten their chances at landing a generational prospect.

A lot of things were shown by the Raiders in their loss to the Denver Broncos . They showed that a quarterback change was needed all along, as their offense flowed much smoothly under Kenny Pickett than it did with Geno Smith. Surprisingly enough, one of the other things they showcased was genuine growth along the offensive line.

Week 14 Rookie Team

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Jim Wyman writes for Pro Football Focus, and he wrote an article creating a team of all the rookie standouts in Week 14 of the NFL. For his interior offensive line, he selected Caleb Rogers based on his impressive play two weeks in a row.

"After making his season debut last week against the Chargers, Rogers saw a significant uptick in playing time, appearing on 51 snaps after having logged 17 all season prior to Week 14. Rogers was particularly good in pass protection, only losing two reps on 41 pass-blocking snaps with neither resulting in pressure", said Wyman.

Don’t see this a lot from the Raiders the past 3 seasons but good stunt pickup by Caleb Rogers on this rep. pic.twitter.com/vMX2VWL5hx
— Marcus Johnson (@TheMarcJohnNFL) December 8, 2025

In the clip above, one can see how excellent Rogers is at his footwork and holding his ground. He was able to move off the first defender and pushes him towards the center, and immediately begins blocking the next defensive lineman in front of him.

John Spytek traded two picks in the 2025 NFL draft for Rogers, and it's beginning to show why he felt the need to give up so much for a third-round guard. The Raiders' offensive line has been a big problem for them this season, so it's a miracle that it's taken so long for him to start a game.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

He's played so well in the limited snaps he's been given this season, and the fact that this type of offensive line play was just rotting on the bench goes to show the incompetence the Raiders are dealing with.

Pete Carroll doesn't know how to run an NFL team anymore, preferring his veterans that lessen their chances of winning, over the younger players. His lapses of judgment have held the Raiders back from their full potential, but it's also robbed their younger players of valuable reps they'll never be able to have back.

This article first appeared on Las Vegas Raiders on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: