It’s painfully clear the Las Vegas Raiders have a huge problem on offense. It’s the offensive line.
To put it nicely, it’s been abysmal to watch the Raiders try to facilitate an efficient offense with how the current group has performed up front. The Raiders allowed pressure on 64.7 percent of Geno Smith’s dropbacks, the highest rate of the morning slate in Week 3.
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy put things into perspective on how the offensive line’s play has negatively affected the team.
“Jeanty is running behind one of the worst offensive lines in football, at least through three weeks. The Raiders ranked dead last in yards per contact per rush entering Week 3 at -0.63. A whopping 34.9 percent of their rush attempts went for zero or negative yards during that span.”
If the Raiders want to salvage the season, there have to be changes on the offensive line. One suggestion is pursuing a trade for Cleveland Browns offensive guard Teven Jenkins.
The Raiders Should Make a Trade for Teven Jenkins
GettyCleveland Browns offensive guard Teven Jenkins.
Jenkins signed a one-year, $3.050 million deal to join the Browns after spending the first four years of his career with the Chicago Bears. Drafted as a tackle, he slid into the guard position and flourished with the Bears.
Jenkins now finds himself sitting behind longtime veteran guard Joel Bitonio in the depth chart. At 6’6″ and 321 pounds, the 27-year-old could not only help a struggling offensive line but also become a long-term piece up front.
Jenkins has started in 36 of 39 games over the past three seasons with the Bears, and is best known for being a mauler in the run game. Only committing one penalty last season, he’s not just some random lineman sitting on the bench.
At the very least, the Raiders should inquire about his availability.
The Raiders’ Offensive Line Has to Step Up
It’s unacceptable to be dead last in the NFL in run-block-win-rate at just 62%. For comparison, the Bears, who the Raiders play next week, are first in the NFL at 78%.
With the poor offensive line play, questions have surfaced on whether the Raiders had a concrete plan when they drafted Ashton Jeanty in the first round back in April.
Head coach Pete Carroll commented on the lack of opportunities for Jeanty, stating, “The numbers haven’t been as good as we want so far in the first two games. …We want more of [Jeanty]. He ran very well when he had the ball, and so we just needed to get more snaps.”
Well, let’s see.
- Week 1: 19 attempts, 38 yards, 1 touchdown
- Week 2: 11 attempts, 43 yards, 0 touchdowns
- Week 3: 17 attempts, 63 yards, 0 touchdowns
That’s an average of 3.26 yards per carry this season.
However, that’s a bigger indication of the offensive line than it is of Jeanty, who has shown glimpses of why the Raiders took him in the first round when the offensive line has given him open running lanes.
In fact, during Week 3’s loss to the Washington Commanders, Jeanty was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of his 17 rushes vs. Washington. His total is now at 57% (27 of 47), where he’s been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage during the season.
Regardless, the Raiders need to switch things up on the offensive line, and one player they can acquire through a low-risk, high-reward trade is Teven Jenkins.
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