Three-Way Competition For Raiders LG Spot
The Raiders have undergone major changes since finishing the 2025 season with the worst record in the NFL and securing the No. 1 pick in the draft. A new head coach and coaching staff and a new starting quarterback headline the updates, but the team’s efforts in recent years to improve the offensive line have not gone unnoticed. A battle for the starting left guard spot, in particular, could be worth watching as the team attempts to put a bow onto a finished project.
After he missed all but four games in 2025, Las Vegas will be excited to see Kolton Miller return at left tackle next season, and former second-round pick DJ Glaze should be set to start at right tackle for the third straight year. The Raiders made one of their biggest moves of the offseason when they coaxed Tyler Linderbaum out of Baltimore with a record-setting contract for an NFL center. Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson also ended last year on injured reserve after only making seven starts, but its expected that he, too, will return to a starting spot next to Glaze for the third year in a row.
With Dylan Parham departing for New York in free agency, that leaves one more starting spot up for grabs. According to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, the likeliest scenario sees free agent addition Spencer Burford slotting in at left guard on the first-team offense, but youngsters Caleb Rogers and Trey Zuhn III should push him for the job as the offseason continues.
Burford was a fourth-round selection out of UTSA for San Francisco in 2022. As a rookie, he started 16 games for the 49ers at right guard. He opened his sophomore campaign starting at right guard, as well, but found himself coming off the bench late in the season and into the postseason as Jon Feliciano took over the starting role until getting injured in the Super Bowl. The addition of Dominick Puni in 2024 pushed Burford back to the bench, but he found starting time again last year after starter Ben Bartch suffered an injury that would end up keeping him out for most of the season.
Burford has not been stellar as a starter so far in his NFL career, but his starting experience was enough for the Raiders to bring him in on a one-year, $3.26MM deal in free agency. Essentially, Burford’s experience puts him in the driver seat for now, but Rogers and Zuhn will their opportunities to push him from the spot. Rogers closed out the season for Las Vegas last year at right guard after Powers-Johnson went down. He started off strong in his first few starts but ended the season with a couple difficult performances. The team hopes to see the former third-round pick out of Texas Tech develop into an eventual starter, and McFadden anticipates serious competition from Rogers as the offseason continues.
Another third-round pick out of Texas, Zuhn was selected by Vegas after four years as the starting left tackle at Texas A&M. Despite his consistency at the position, Zuhn was seen as one of the top center prospects in the 2026 class with the belief that he had potential to flex over multiple spots on the interior offensive line. Per McFadden, Zuhn has already proven his ability to plug in “all over the offensive line.” He may establish a valuable sixth-man role that will allow him to be the first man off the bench for any substitutions, but his versatility will grant him plenty of reps in the offseason. If the Raiders endeavor to start the best five lineman, Zuhn could certainly establish himself if he continues to impress.
Spencer Burford Favored For Raiders’ LG Job?
The Raiders wrapped up their mandatory minicamp last week and emerged from spring practices with a clearer idea of their new-look offensive line.
Three-fifths of the unit have long been set. Kolton Miller and Delmar Glaze are returning to their posts at left and right tackle, respectively, and big-money signing Tyler Linderbaum will take over at center. Both guard spots, though, are up for grabs.
Spencer Burford, who arrived via free agency in March, is currently favored for the starting left guard job that was held by Dylan Parham last year, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. Originally a 2022 fourth-round pick by the 49ers, Burford has started 38 games in his career, including 13 at right guard in 2023 while Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak was serving as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator.
In 2025, Burford started nine games at left guard for the 49ers and surrendered a pressure on 9.4% of his pass blocking opportunities, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 95.0 pass blocking efficiency (PBE) ranked dead-last among 87 guards who played at least 250 snaps.
The 25-year-old only signed a $3.3MM deal to come to Las Vegas this offseason, so he is not necessarily guaranteed a starting job – at least, financially. The Raiders also have former Patriots fifth-rounder Atonio Mafi, who started two games at left guard last year, as well as veteran Jordan Meredith and 2024 UDFA Will Putnam. Putnam saw a handful of snaps at left guard in 2025, but he and Meredith primarily played center. With that job locked down by Linderbaum, either could factor in the left guard competition, too. Meredith has almost 500 career snaps at the position, including six starts for the Raiders in 2024.
At right guard, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers are set to battle for the starting job, per Bonsignore. Powers-Johnson is coming off an ankle injury that ended his 2025 season after just seven starts, all at right guard. His 63.8 overall grade ranked 38th out of 87 guards, per PFF, and his 96.9 pass blocking efficiency ranked 49th.
Among the same group, Rogers, who started the last six games of the year at guard, ranked 48th with a 59.6 grade and 74th with a 95.9 pass blocking efficiency. The 2025 third-round pick impressed at mandatory minicamp, Bonsignore adds, and looks “ready to compete for a starting job at RG.”
Should Rogers win the gig, Powers-Johnson could be out of the starting lineup entirely. Theoretically, he could factor into the mix at left guard, where he lined up as a rookie, but that will be more difficult in practice given Burford’s apparent lead in that race.
Powers-Johnson could then become a valuable trade chip during the preseason. Position-versatile, starting-caliber offensive linemen are rarely available, much less that late in the year, even less with two years left on a rookie contract. And despite a disappointing start to his NFL career, Powers-Johnson was still dominant during his time at Oregon, including a Rimington Trophy win in 2023 as college football’s best center. Draft priors tend to stick around in the NFL, so a team that coveted the 23-year-old two years ago could pursue him this summer – should the Raiders’ guard competition create such an opportunity.
Spencer Burford Could Have Inside Track To Raiders Starting Guard Job
The Raider have most of their starting offensive line set with left tackle Kolton Miller, right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, and right tackle Delmar Glaze all returning from last year’s squad.
Las Vegas also signed Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, leaving left guard as the only uncertain spot. Among the top candidates for the job is offseason signing Spencer Burford, per Vincent Bongisnore of the California Post. The 25-year-old brings familiarity not only with Klint Kubiak‘s scheme, but with the new head coach himself. He also has more playing experience than any other guard on the Raiders’ roster.
Originally, a fourth-round pick by the 49ers in 2022, Burford started 16 games at right guard as a rookie. In 2023, while Kubiak was San Francisco’s passing game coordinator, he made another 13 starts at right guard with a handful of snaps at right tackle. Burford did not start any games the following year, but saw time at left guard and tackle.
In 2025, Burford landed on injured reserve after Week 2 and took over the starting left guard job upon his return in Week 9. He started every game for the rest of the year, though several of them featured a timeshare with Ben Bartch until he suffered a season-ending injury.
Burford’s main competition is likely veteran Jordan Meredith, who has primarily played left guard during his four seasons in Las Vegas but did not line up there at all last year. Also in the mix is Atonio Mafi, a Patriots 2023 fifth-round pick who started two games at left guard for the Raiders in 2025.
Glaze, it’s worth noting, gave up 10 sacks last year, per Pro Football Focus, the second-most of any tackle, so Las Vegas could consider a change at right tackle, too. Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers, third-round Raiders tackle draftees in 2024 and 2025, would likely have a better shot at displacing Glaze than Burford, but he does have some experience at the position in a system similar to Kubiak’s.
AFC West Contract Details: Thornton, Koonce, Tomlinson, Booker
Here are the latest details from contracts recently reached in the AFC West:
- Tyquan Thornton, WR (Chiefs): Two years, $11MM. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Thornton’s new deal has $7.4MM in guaranteed money at signing, including a $4MM signing bonus. The remaining guaranteed money comes from his 2026 salary ($1.4MM) and $2MM of his 2027 salary ($5.4MM).
- Malcolm Koonce, DE (Raiders): One year, $11.01MM. Per Wilson, Koonce’s re-upped agreement is worth slightly more than the originally reported figure of $11MM. The one-year deal has $10.5MM guaranteed at signing, made up of a $5.25MM signing bonus and a single-year base salary for the same $5.25MM amount. Koonce will have the chance to earn an additional $510K by making the most of a $30K per game active roster bonus.
- Dalvin Tomlinson, DT (Chargers): One year, $6.2MM. Disputing an originally reported amount of $7.5MM with $6MM guaranteed, Wilson reports the above-stated base value with $5.69MM fully guaranteed at signing, comprised of a $3MM signing bonus and Tomlinson’s 2026 base salary ($2.69MM). Like Koonce, Tomlinson can earn an additional $510K with his $30K per game active roster bonus.
- Thomas Booker, DE (Raiders): One year, $3.67MM. According to Wilson, Booker signed his free agent tender at the above-stated value.
- Spencer Burford, G (Raiders): One year, $3.26MM. Per Wilson, Burford’s deal includes $2.75MM in guaranteed money at signing, consisting of a $1.5MM signing bonus and his 2026 base salary ($1.25MM). Burford will also enjoy the same per game active roster bonus potential as Koonce and Tomlinson for as much as $510K.
- Denzel Perryman, LB (Chargers): One year, $2.79MM. Per Wilson, Perryman’s contract only contains $500K in guaranteed money at signing, consisting of a $200K signing bonus and $300K of base salary ($1.3MM). The bulk of Perryman’s contract value comes in an inflated per game active roster bonus. Unlike the others, Perryman’s bonus is $70K per game with a potential maximum value of $1.19MM.
- Trey Lance, QB (Chargers): One year, $2.5MM. While the maximum value of $6.75MM was known, the above-stated base value was previously unreported. Per Wilson, the deal for Lance includes $2MM fully guaranteed at signing made up of an $800K signing bonus and $1.2MM of his base salary ($1.7MM). That means $4MM will be available in incentives for Lance in 2026.
- Josh Harris, LS (Chargers): One year, $1.82MM. According to Wilson, the long snapper’s deal is fully guaranteed at signing with a $187.5K signing bonus and base salary of $1.63MM.
- Kader Kohou, CB (Chiefs): One year, $1.81MM. Wilson reports that Kohou’s deal is also fully guaranteed with a signing bonus of $665K and base salary of $1.15MM.
- Matt Gay, K (Raiders): One year, $1.6MM. Per Wilson, the Raiders’ new kicker can earn up to $2.25MM on this contract that only has $1.35MM of guaranteed money at signing, $200K from his signing bonus and $1.15MM of his base salary ($1.4MM). $650K will be available to Gay through an incentive based on his field goal percentage.
- Mike Caliendo, G (Chiefs): One year, $1.35MM. Per Wilson, Caliendo’s new deal includes $650K fully guaranteed at signing, consisting of a signing bonus of $150K and $500K of his base salary ($1.15MM). Caliendo can also earn up to $50K with a per game active roster bonus of $2.94K.
- Emari Demercado, RB (Chiefs): One year, $1.25MM. According to Wilson, Demercado’s contract includes $550K of full guarantees at signing made up of a $50K signing bonus and $500K of his base salary ($1.15MM). He’ll have the same per game active roster bonus as Caliendo, giving him the potential to add on another $50K in 2026.
Raiders Sign G Spencer Burford
The Raiders remain active into the second week of free agency. The team announced the signing of guard Spencer Burford on Tuesday. It’s a one-year deal, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 first reported an agreement was in the works.
Burford, 25, spent the first four years of his career in San Francisco. The 2022 fourth-rounder from Texas-San Antonio started in 29 of 30 games at right guard in his first two seasons. However, the addition of 2024 third-rounder Dominick Puni relegated Burford to the bench in his third year. Burford did not start in any of his 15 games then, but he returned to a regular role during a truncated 2025.
The 49ers dealt with injuries to Burford and Ben Bartch, both left guard options, last season. Although Burford was on IR with a knee injury from late September to early December, he started in nine of 11 appearances at left guard. Pro Football Focus rated Burford’s work 53rd among 79 qualified guards.
The Raiders lost four-year guard starter Dylan Parham last week in free agency. Burford visited with the Chargers on Sunday (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), but he will instead join the AFC West rival Raiders.
In heading to Las Vegas, Burford will reunite with rookie Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the 49ers’ pass-game coordinator in 2023. Burford will at least give the Raiders experienced depth at guard, though he could compete for a starting job with Jordan Meredith and Jackson Powers-Johnson.
49ers G Ben Bartch Done For Season
Ben Bartch‘s season has ended early. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed today that the guard has a foot sprain that will land him on IR and end his season, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
While subsequent tests will reveal more details, the organization believes Bartch suffered a Lisfranc injury. Shanahan told reporters that he isn’t confident the offensive lineman will be able to return in time for the postseason (per Barrows).
Bartch suffered the injury during the third quarter of yesterday’s win over the Browns. Spencer Burford filled in at left guard for the rest of the contest and will likely serve as the team’s starter for the remainder of the season. Fortunately for the 49ers, the coaching staff has been alternating between Bartch and Burford at the position throughout the campaign, so the fill-in has plenty of familiarity playing alongside the first-team offense. Matt Hennessy will likely slide into the backup LG role moving forward.
This is a disappointing development for Bartch, whose 2024 campaign ended early thanks to a high ankle sprain. That same injury forced Bartch to miss a handful of games earlier this season.
A former fourth-round pick, Bartch spent the first three-plus seasons of his career in Jacksonville, where he started 20 of his 41 appearances. He joined the 49ers during the 2023 campaign and has generally served as a reserve lineman for the franchise. In two-plus seasons with the 49ers, Bartch has started four of his 14 appearances.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/25
Here are today’s minor moves and practice squad callups for the ninth weekend of the NFL season:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Dylan Drummond
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DT Phidarian Mathis
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: RB Brittain Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Brian Asamoah II, G Jaxson Kirkland
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: LB Ty Summers
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: LB Kristian Welch
- Elevated: DE Arron Mosby
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Niemann
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Durell Nchami, WR Laquon Treadwell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Branson Combs, WR Tim Jones
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, G C.J. Hanson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: RB Amar Johnson, RB Jaret Patterson
- Placed on IR: RB Hassan Haskins
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB A.J. Green, RB Ronnie Rivers
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: CB Fabian Moreau, TE Nick Vannett
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: CB Rico Payton
- Elevated: LB Zaire Barnes, WR Ray-Ray McCloud
- Placed on IR: CB Art Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: LB Malik Harrison
- Elevated: RB Lew Nichols, RB Trey Sermon
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Elevated: DE Clelin Ferrell, OL Nick Zakelj
- Placed on IR: OLB Yetur Gross-Matos
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche, DT Carlos Watkins
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Treylon Burks, DT Sheldon Day
The Steelers are getting Harrison back at a crucial time. Fellow linebacker Cole Holcomb has been ruled out this weekend with an illness — as has safety Chuck Clark, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network — and Harrison should be able to reinforce the group. He has plenty of experience playing next to starter Patrick Queen from their time together in Baltimore, so perhaps he’ll be able to step in and contribute right away.
The Chargers continue to see their running backs room plagued with injury. Haskins joins Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris on injured reserve. Johnson and Patterson will suit up tomorrow to provide some depth behind lone survivor Kimani Vidal.
With Terry McLaurin once again set to miss time, Burks, the newly signed p-squad addition, will make his Washington debut. Also a newly signed p-squad addition, Lewis will make his Denver debut this weekend. If he sees game time, 2025 will officially be Lewis’ 20th season in the NFL.
After missing the last three games, Gross-Matos appeared to be close to returning to play. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, the 27-year-old re-injured his hamstring at practice on Thursday and will now miss another four games.
For Leota in New Orleans, Mosby in Green Bay, Sermon in Pittsburgh, Zakelj in San Francisco, and both Proche and Watkins in Tennessee, this Sunday will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation on their current deals. In order to appear in any more games after this, their respective teams will need to sign them to the active roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Opened practice window: T Storm Norton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Opened practice window: DE Cedric Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Zach Cunningham
Houston Texans
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jason Marshall
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DT John Ridgeway
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jakorian Bennett
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: DE Robert Beal Jr.
- Designated to return from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Released: DE Trevis Gipson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: TE Eric Saubert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: G Michael Jordan
- Placed on IR: WR Mike Evans (story)
While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.
Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/25
Here are today’s minor moves and Week 3’s standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, DE Anthony Goodlow
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed from practice squad: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, LB Carl Jones
- Placed on IR: T Kiran Amegadjie, CB Jaylon Johnson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: WR Kaden Davis, CB Dom Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: WR Jayden Reed (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: FB Jakob Johnson
- Elevated: CB Myles Bryant, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: CB Kevin Knowles
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LB Emany Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, G Henry Byrd
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Kobee Minor, LB Mark Robinson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Elevated: DE Fadil Diggs, TE Treyton Welch
- Waived: TE Moliki Matavao
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia, LB Neville Hewitt
- Waived: WR Xavier Gipson
New York Jets
- Elevated: S Dean Clark, QB Brady Cook
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: RB Trey Sermon
- Placed on IR: G Max Scharping (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: QB Adrian Martinez, WR Malik Turner
- Placed on IR: OL Spencer Burford
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: S D’Anthony Bell, RB Jacardia Wright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: T Tyler McLellan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Released from reserve/retired list: OL Nate Herbig
There were some eyes on whether or not the Browns would add a kicker for the weekend after Andre Szmyt needed to undergo some MRI testing, but no such moves were made and Szmyt heads into the weekend without an injury designation. The team did report a workout with veteran kicker Matthew Wright, though, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
The 49ers will lose some additional offensive line depth as they place their intended swing tackle, Burford, on injured reserve. Additionally, with Martinez not getting signed to the active roster, it appears that injured starter Brock Purdy will not be active as an emergency option, as was rumored a bit yesterday. Purdy should be inactive as a result.
Herbig announced his retirement at the end of July after spending a good portion of the offseason with the Commanders. The 27-year-old was coming off a 2024 season in which he missed the entirety of the year with a shoulder injury. Washington’s release of Herbig from the reserve/retired list gives him an opportunity to sign with a new team as a free agent. There’s no guarantee that he’s headed anywhere specific, but he likely initiated the transaction in order to explore his options.
49ers Place T Andre Dillard On IR
The 49ers look to have moved to a swing tackle decision; an injury will lead to an easier call. San Francisco placed Andre Dillard on IR on Thursday. Barring a belated return after an injury settlement, this move will keep Dillard out of the picture for the 49ers this season. This comes days after the team activated Dillard from the active/PUP list; not much practice time ensued for the six-year veteran.
After a season with the Packers, the former first-round pick joined the 49ers on a vet-minimum deal. Flaming out as the Titans’ left tackle starter, Dillard was competing for the swing tackle role Jaylon Moore‘s Chiefs defection vacated. As it stands, it looks like converted guard Spencer Burford will slide into that role, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes.
[RELATED: Assessing 49ers’ 2025 Offseason]
Burford began taking tackle reps early last season, even as Moore held the role. The 49ers may have been grooming the former guard starter for that gig, as Moore eventually drew a two-year, $30MM offer — a rate that surprised even John Lynch — from the Chiefs. Burford had been squarely in the mix to take over, and with Dillard officially out of the equation, it looks like the contract-year blocker will assume one of the NFL’s most important swing roles. The 49ers were rumored to have a deal in place with D.J. Humphries this offseason, but it never came to fruition. Humphries is now with the Rams.
Trent Williams has not played a full season since 2013. Moore helped gain free agency interest because Williams missed seven games last season. The future Hall of Fame tackle has missed at least two games due to injury in each of his five 49ers seasons; an ankle injury kept him off the field during last season’s second half. A former fourth-round pick who drew scrutiny for missing a key block that stalled the 49ers’ overtime drive in Super Bowl LVIII, Burford made 29 guard starts from 2022-23 but spent the ’24 season on the bench. Burford did log 31 left tackle snaps last season. He started the 49ers’ preseason opener at LT.
Dillard, 29, has considerably more time there but has never justified his first-round pedigree. The Titans gave him a three-year, $29MM deal but demoted him during the 2023 season and cut him months later. Dillard, who drew trade interest as Jason Peters‘ backup in Philly, spent the 2024 season as a Packers second-stringer. He could resurface elsewhere via an injury settlement, but for the time being, he is on San Francisco’s IR list.
The 49ers also signed defensive linemen William Bradley-King and Demone Harris while also waiving D-lineman Michael Dwumfour.