Raiders' Opponents Ranked: OL, No. 2
In trying to make back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first time since 2000-02, the Las Vegas Raiders will navigate the NFL's fourth-hardest rated schedule, according to Pro Football Focus.
That will include several teams that have offensive lines that could prove a worthy challenge for the Raiders' high-end pass rush.
When the Kansas City Chiefs lost in the Super Bowl two seasons ago to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their lack of ability to control the line of scrimmage was exposed.
It then became their biggest focus to upgrade their offensive line last offseason, starting with trading for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, Brown has already made Pro Bowls at both left and right tackle in his short career.
Wanting to play exclusively on the left side led him to ask for a trade, and the Chiefs surrendered four draft picks to get him.
Brown then made his third straight Pro Bowl last season, setting himself up to get what should be a big contract extension from Kansas City in the near future.
The Chiefs also were able to remake the interior of their offensive line into one of the best in the league.
Kansas City signed guard Joe Thuney to a five-year, $80-million contract, and he recorded the best pass blocking grade by any guard last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Center Creed Humphrey was PFF's top-ranked center as a rookie, and they found a sixth-round gem in guard Trey Smith, who started all 17 games and was top-15 at his position, according to PFF.
The one question mark the Chiefs do have is at right tackle, where Lucas Niang is currently the favorite to start.
The former third-round pick started nine games last season but often experienced problems with holding his own in pass protection.
Niang could have competition from the likes of rookie tackle Darian Kinnard, who was considered to be a good value pick in the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft.
Whoever ends up winning, if they prove to hold their own, the Chiefs won't have any obvious weaknesses on their line to exploit.
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