It’s still very possible that Ashton Jeanty will develop into an All-Pro player, but in hindsight, the Las Vegas Raiders may have invested heavily in a running back too early. The team’s offensive line is a mess, and Jeanty hasn’t been able to do much.
The Raiders will have to live with their decision, and perhaps the Jeanty pick will look better in a year or two. However, if the offensive line doesn’t show major signs of improvement this season, the team can’t afford to ignore the position early in the draft again.
Unfortunately, DJ Glaze hasn’t made the second-year leap Las Vegas was hoping he would. He might be better suited to be a swing tackle. With left tackle Kolton Miller getting a contract extension this offseason, he should hold that position for a few more years, but the team needs a long-term answer at right tackle.
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner put together a 2026 mock draft, and he believes that Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa will be the player the Raiders pick.
“The offensive line has been struggling early on with DJ Glaze being part of those problems at right tackle,” Renner wrote. “Mauigoa is a three-year starter on the right side and has been a big reason for Miami’s offensive success early on this season.”
Mauigoa Was on The Athletic’s ‘Freaks’ List
Mauigoa had a very strong sophomore season at Miami. He was named Second-Team All-ACC and should only get better thanks to his athletic profile.
Every year, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic puts together a “Freaks List” for all of the most athletic players in college football. Heading into this college football season, Feldman ranked Mauigoa No. 16 on the list.
“The former five-star has started all 26 games at right tackle that he’s played at Miami since arriving two years ago,” Feldman wrote. “Last season, Mauigoa earned All-ACC second-team honors. The 6-6, 335-pounder clocked a 1.57 flying 10-yard split. His power output registered almost 10,000 watts, which is by far the most on the team, almost 1,000 watts more than the next player. Last year, Mauigoa measured at 9,274 watts. His max velocity is 18 mph and his vertical jump is 30 1/2 inches.”
Raiders Need to Find Answer at RT
The Raiders have seemingly been trying to find an answer at right tackle for years. They previously spent a ton of money on Trent Brown, who was a good player when he was on the field, but he was always hurt.
They used a first-round pick on Alex Leatherwood, which is now considered one of the worst draft picks of the decade. The Raiders had hoped that Glaze could be the answer, but that’s looking less likely.
If Las Vegas ends up with a top-10 pick, it could finally be time to invest heavily in a right tackle. The Raiders haven’t used a top-10 pick on an offensive lineman since Robert Gallery in 2004. General manager John Spytek has spoken about how important it is to build through the trenches. He may have overestimated the talent the Raiders have on the offensive line. He needs to be more aggressive in upgrading the group in the offseason.