Raiders' Opponents Ranked: OL, No. 1

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.

The New England Patriots were heavily scrutinized after Chattanooga Mocs guard Cole Strange took the first-round of this year's NFL Draft.

It was a move to replace traded starter Shaq Mason, but Strange was viewed primarily as a third-round or later prospect.

Strange will be looked at as the main question mark for what could be one of the overall best O-lines in the NFL this season.

Center David Andrews represents the longest tenured member on the Patriots O-line, having been a member of the last two Patriots teams to win Super Bowls.

Andrews has been rated highly by Pro Football Focus during that time, ranking as a top-10 center in three of the last four seasons, including fifth last year.

Right tackle Trent Brown is in his second tenure with the Patriots after being with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020.

As Raiders fans know well, health has always been the issue with Brown, and he played in only nine games last season.

When he's on the field, Brown has proven to be more than effective, being ranked above average by PFF since 2017.

The Patriots were able to find a sixth-round gem in guard Michael Onwenu in 2020, as he's been ranked top-10 in the league ever since, including being the third-highest-rated guard last season.

Isaiah Wynn rounds out the group at left tackle and has been solid so far in his career, despite missing what would have been his first season in 2018 due to injury.

There might be a few other O-lines in the NFL that have more upside, but the Patriots have a good one, as evidenced by giving up only 28 sacks last season and clearing the way for the league's eighth-best rushing attack.

Even if Strange goes through rookie struggles, the Patriots have a strong enough line around him to hold up.

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