The Raiders have made their first addition of the offseason along the interior of their offensive line. The team announced on Friday that they have signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten. 
Las Vegas will represent Van Roten’s fifth career team, after he spent time with the Packers, Panthers, Jets and Bills. Overall, his 93 appearances in the NFL have included 54 career starts, and he has seen at least some first-team work in every season since 2017. He saw time at center in 2022 with Buffalo, but the majority of his time has been spent at either left or right guard.
The 33-year-old had a run of 23 starts in two seasons with the Jets, but was released last offseason. That led him to sign with the Bills in June, where he served in a backup capacity aside from four starts at center. His time there resulted in a career-worst PFF grade of 57.6, a notable drop from his consistent (if unspectacular) ratings for much of the rest of his career. Usage at guard could help lead to a return to form with the Raiders.
Van Roten represents an expected addition for the Raiders, a team which had only re-signed in-house linemen to date. They also elected not to use any draft capital at the position, despite the unit’s inconsistent play last season. Prior to today, right guard Alex Bars was set to face competition from Jermaine Eluemunor and Netane Muti for playing time at the RG spot; all three signed new deals with Vegas this offseason.
Now, however, Van Roten could compete for a starting role, given Bars’ struggles in 2022. Having that pair atop the depth chart in one order or another could also give the team more depth at right tackle, particularly if Eluemunor were to primarily play on the outside. If Van Roten were to be able to earn the starting job, he could line himself up for another, more lucrative deal next offseason on the open market.