Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp Preview: Klint Kubiak has a very good problem to have that Pete Carroll didn’t this time last year
The Las Vegas Raiders are ready to get training camp going in just a few days, and there are some position battles to watch, like the two offensive guard positions.
The Las Vegas Raiders open training camp on Wednesday, and the offensive guard position could produce the most compelling battle of the entire preseason.
Five players are competing for two starting spots. And unlike the quarterback situation where Kirk Cousins is the presumed Week 1 starter alongside Fernando Mendoza, there is no clear favorite at left guard or right guard. The Raiders’ offensive line overhaul this offseason has created a legitimate five-man race that could stretch deep into August.
Offensive guard
Spencer Burford, the former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman, signed with Las Vegas this offseason. Burford has familiarity with offensive line coach Klint Kubiak from their time together in San Francisco, which gives him an edge in learning the system. He has started a number of games throughout his career, though he’s primarily functioned as a career backup who steps in when starters go down.
Then there’s rookie Trey Zuhn, who played tackle in college but projects as a guard at the NFL level. Zuhn can play center, both guard spots, and both tackle spots, making him one of the most versatile linemen on the roster. That versatility could work for or against him in this battle. The Raiders may prefer to slot him as a versatile backup rather than lock him into one starting role.
Jordan Meredith is a name that will make some Raiders fans uneasy. He started at center last year and struggled badly. But in 2024, Meredith was a starting offensive guard and played well. That track record at guard should keep him in contention. However, he likely sits behind the other four candidates right now.
Caleb Rogers is a second-year player who logged only 280 snaps during his rookie season. The Raiders seem high on him, and he offers versatility across multiple spots. Rogers can play either guard position and slide out to tackle if needed, though his footwork profiles better inside.
Jackson Powers-Johnson rounds out the group and entered the offseason looking like he had a starting guard spot locked down. That certainty has faded as camp approaches. Powers-Johnson wasn’t drafted by the current coaching staff, and while he has elite potential, availability and mental mistakes have been concerns.
The Kansas City Chiefs game last season stands as a painful reminder of what can go wrong with Powers-Johnson, as his mistakes played a significant role in a game the Raiders should have won.
How the battle could shake out
If forced to project right now, the left guard competition looks like a Burford-Zuhn fight, with the right guard spot coming down to Powers-Johnson and Rogers. Meredith fits in wherever he can carve out a role.
The honest answer, though, is that predicting two starters from this group is difficult. This is a genuine position battle with no predetermined outcome. All five players bring something to the table, and the coaching staff appears willing to let it play out through the entirety of camp and the preseason schedule. Don’t be surprised if the starting offensive guards aren’t determined until after the final preseason game.