With gaps on both lines and a new era underway, the front office turned its head to the 2025 NFL Draft to prioritize the new identity of the team. It was no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders needed a Reload across the board.
Before taking over as the new General Manager of The Las Vegas Raiders, John Spytek worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and added some Fuel to the trenches with DTs Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, and OL Tristan Wirfs.
It seems The Memory Remains, as he addressed 4 of the 11 draft choices into linemen, 2 on each side of the ball. Those players being OL Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant, and DL Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues.
Caleb Rogers – Offensive Guard – Texas Tech
Standing at 6´ 5″ and logging over 4,200 snaps, Caleb Rogers figures to compete for a Guard spot with teammates Alex Cappa, Dylan Parham, and Jordan Meredith. Stepping into the Devil’s Dance in the trenches, he will be prepared to claim his spot during training camp.
Rogers is ready to prove that his toughness and consistency in college can and will translate to the NFL, as he seeks nothing but respect. Reliable, overlooked, relentless and Unforgiven too, he has a ton of experience as Left Tackle, Left Guard, Right Guard and Right Tackle.
Charles Grant – Offensive Tackle – William & Mary
With over 2,200+ snaps and allowing only 3 sacks in the past three years, Charles Grant is a Two-Time First-Team FCS All-American. He’s the highest William & Mary draftee since 2009, and ready to prove that he’s just Better Than You.
While projected to start his NFL career as a Swing Tackle, he’s 6´ 4″ and 300 pounds with starter traits. Grant’s smart, subtle, always moving forward and could Slither his way down the line into competing for the Left Tackle spot with Kolton Miller.
Tonka Hemingway – Defensive Tackle – South Carolina
Because of his athleticism, Hemingway’s considered to be some sort of “tweener”, meaning he can line up anywhere in the Defensive Line. That kind of flexibility can make life difficult for opposing Offensive Coordinators, as he could Carpe Diem the situation into his advantage.
While numerous Defensive Coordinators may perceive him as an unconventional fit within standard schemes, akin to a Bad Seed, Tonka has the potential to thrive if he reduces his weight and embraces a disruptive role as a Defensive End.
JJ Pegues – Defensive Tackle – Ole Miss
JJ is a rare and fantastic blend of strength, speed, power, agility and versatility across the Defensive Line. Pegues could dominate any alignment due to his relentless athleticism and effort. He’s going to bulldozer you both sides of the field Where The Wild Things Are happening.
Although originally a Four-Star Tight End as an Auburn Tiger, he transferred to become an Ole Miss Rebel. With the swagger of a Prince Charming, big personality and athletic traits, Pegues could become a fan favorite when being used as a shot yardage Fullback on a Chip Kelly led offense.
Brining Competition To Training Camp
What was once a Low Man’s Lyric to a team that carried a quiet burden of inconsistency and missed opportunities, now shows signs of toughness. This could quickly turn around into one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Now, a new Attitude brought by coaches Brennan Carroll (OLine/Run Game Coordinator) and Rob Leonard (DLine/Run Game Coordinator) might reshape the toughness in the line of scrimmage. They’re going to set the tone during practices and then wear the opposition down during the season.
Like a true Fixxxer, John Spytek did a phenomenal job during the 2025 NFL Draft. He brought juice and power to build a physical dominance against opposing teams. Now, let’s just wait and see how the team evolves during training camp.
