It’s been a positive offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders, who have done a fine job of adding talent to a depleted roster.
In free agency, the team added players like safety Jeremy Chinn, linebacker Elandon Roberts, and running back Raheem Mostert. The team also traded for veteran quarterback Geno Smith, who should immediately raise the floor of the offense.
Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders added one of the top overall talents in running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round. Talented receiver Jack Bech was added in the second, and should immediately play a key role on the offense.
The overall talent on the roster has improved, but the interior offensive line is still a glaring need. Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus thinks the team should look to add veteran free agent guard Will Hernandez.
Even though the Raiders spent a pair of 2025 NFL Draft picks on their offensive line depth on Day 2 in Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant, they shouldn’t stop adding more pieces to this puzzle.
Will Hernandez profiles as a solid depth option. A torn ACL ended his 2024 season in Week 5, but his overall marks as a pass protector (91st percentile) and run blocker (81st percentile on gap runs) over the past three seasons would be an asset to the Raiders’ offense.
As Cameron mentioned, Hernandez is among the better guards in the league in pass protection. An injury limited the veteran to just five games in 2024, though, which is likely why he has yet to find a new home.
2024 was the first season in his seven-year career where Hernandez played in fewer than 13 games, though, so durability shouldn’t be an issue moving forward.
In Vegas, Hernandez could immediately start at one of the guard spots that are set to have a competition between Jordan Meredith, Alex Cappa, Dylan Parham, and others. Cappa is coming off a down season and Meredith remains unproven.
The Raiders did add Caleb Rodgers in the third round, but it would likely be wiser to lean on a veteran like Hernandez while Rodgers adjusts to the pro game.
With Hernandez in the fold, the Raiders could trot out a line from left to right of Kolton Miller, Hernandez, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, and D.J. Glaze.
The rookies, Rodgers and Charles Grant, would be allowed to develop and not thrust into starting roles immediately.
In 2024, Hernandez had a cap hit of just over $5 million, so the veteran could likely be had for less than that coming off an injury-plagued season. Over the Cap has the Raiders at around $36 million in remaining cap space, so adding the veteran would be no problem.
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