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The Las Vegas Raiders found their new quarterback, successfully landing veteran Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, the Raiders need to do what they can to best protect Smith in 2025. The team recently cut starting center Andre James and veterans Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat are unsigned.
With James gone, the thinking is that the team will move 2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson to center full time. This means the left guard spot, occupied by Powers-Johnson and Whitehair in 2024, needs to be addressed.
Ryan Anderson of LAFB named Teven Jenkins as a logical addition for the Raiders. Jenkins remains a free agent after spending his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears. Regarding Jenkins and the Raiders, Anderson offered the following:
After battling injury challenges throughout his early career, Jenkins enjoyed a breakthrough in his fourth season, starting a career-high 14 games. This newfound consistency has positioned him for a well-deserved contract. Known for his prowess as a run blocker, Jenkins has also demonstrated significant improvement in pass protection since transitioning to left guard from his previous roles at both right and left tackle.
Despite Caleb Williams being sacked an NFL-leading 68 times in 2024, Jenkins’ contribution to those sacks was minimal, with only four attributed to him. His pressure rate allowed, a mere 3.7 percent, places him among the top performers in his position group, highlighting his reliability and effectiveness.
As Anderson mentioned, Jenkins was solid for the Bears in 2024. The guard earned a 75.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade, grading out slightly better as a pass blocker than run blocker.
Jenkins has a big frame, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 321 pounds. The guard has solid footwork and uses leverage to keep powerful defenders in front of him.
One concern with Jenkins is his availability. The Oklahoma State product has never played a full season, but did play in a career-high 14 games in 2024.
Spotrac projects Jenkins to land a three-year deal worth $10.3 million annually. Over the Cap currently has the Raiders sitting at around $47 million in cap space, so signing Jenkins is plausible for the team.
If Jenkins is brought in, the former Bear could start at left guard while Dylan Parham starts at right guard. Powers-Johnson will start at center while Kolton Miller starts at left tackle and Delmar Glaze shouldould start at right tackle.
The Raiders already brought in Alex Cappa on a two-year deal, and the veteran could join Jordan Meredith as solid backup guard options in Las Vegas.
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