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The Las Vegas Raiders will have the second-most cap space this offseason, per Over the Cap. As a result, the Silver and Black have several options to strengthen their roster, particularly with a franchise quarterback on the horizon in Fernando Mendoza, whom they are likely to select.
One speculation is whether the Raiders should look to pursue a wide receiver as Las Vegas lack a No. 1 and even a No. 2 wideout. Indianapolis Colts‘ Alec Pierce is one player who will be testing the market this offseason.
Since coming into the league in 2022, Pierce has had 157 catches for 2,934 yards and has scored 17 touchdowns in 64 games for the Colts, per StatMuse. Having a wide receiver whom Mendoza can rely on makes sense. However, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen believes that the Raiders’ sole focus in free agency should be the offensive line.
“I think they still should not waste money on flash-type signings, but using money on the offensive line and solidifying the line to me is money well spent,” Nguyen said on the Feb. 1 edition of the Just Win Podcast.
“I don’t know if they should be in a position to drop $30 million on Alec Pierce or something, but use that money on the trenches. I think it’ll test the competence of a play caller. Having a better offensive line unit and then making up those margins with skilled guys that aren’t as blue-chip.”
Ashton Jeanty Could Benefit From Improved Raiders O-Line
If the Raiders do improve the offensive line, one player whose production could surge outside of the QB is Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty didn’t have the best offensive line or the best offensive coaching in the 2025 NFL season. Nonetheless, he still recorded 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns despite everything that went on around him, per StatMuse.
If he was able to produce over 1,000 yards despite what was stacked against him, there’s no telling what Jeanty can do with an improved offensive line and play caller who won’t change his stance.
Moreover, former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew shared how the Raiders should be using Jeanty next season.
“You have to find a way to find a coach that’s creative enough to get him in space and to get him running like Christian McCaffrey does, like Kyle Shannon does with Christian McCaffrey,” Jones-Drew said on the Jan. 23 edition of 89 with Steve Smith and James Palmer.
“So to me, that type of offense with that type of usage where he’s up at wide receiver, he’s in the backfield, he’s motioning, all this creativity stuff. Oh, he would excel in that.”
Ashtony Jeanty Could Be Worth the No. 6 Selection
Furthermore, Jones-Drew defended the Raiders for selecting Jeanty where they did in the 2025 NFL Draft, considering that if he can produce like the San Francisco 49ers‘ star, it will be well worth the selection.
“I think he should have been a top five,” Jones-Drew added. “He went at [No. 6]. So, I thought his talent was top five. But he’s a different player than [Jahmyr] Gibbs and Bijan [Robinson] and Saquon [Barkley].
“He’s not that type of guy, right? You have to understand his superpower is that he’s compact, right? He’s what, 5’8 [and] 215 [pounds], that’s imagine trying to get your arms around a guy like that whose legs are huge.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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