Standout left tackle could be Raider for life
Wednesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders extended the contract of left tackle Kolton Miller. Here are some thoughts on the deal and what it means:
Timing was right:
It was somewhat predictable that Miller would sign this week. The left tackle market had bene steady all offseason and the Chargers and Colts got deal done at the position this week. So, the Raiders and Miller had a guidebook to a deal and were able to get to the finish line, securing Miller before the final year of his contract began.
Raider for life?
Miller’s three-year, $66 million deal (with $42 million in guaranteed money) kicks in during the 2026 season. So, he will be a free agent in 2029. Miller turns 30 in October. He has said he wants to be a Raider for life and this extension makes that a real possibility.
It was handled the right way:
We see contract disputes across the league. It happens everywhere, but Miller and the Raiders handled this case well and it Miller, the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018, set the tone. Things looked a little sticky when Miller stayed away from the beginning of the voluntary offseason program. But he quickly changed his mind and the leader was at most of the voluntary session. It created a positive environment for his contract discussions. Kudos to Miller for that.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Who’s next?
Before Miller, new Las Vegas general manager John Spytek secured stars, defensive end Maxx Crosby and punter A.J. Cole, to extensions well before the expiration of their contracts. Now, with plenty of salary-cap room, the Raiders can look to extend other 2026 free agents. they include wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, kicker Daniel Carlson, guard Dylan Parham and long snapper Jacob Bodenmeyer. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce is also a free agent next year, but he signed a one-year deal in March because he is coming off a knee injury. Everyone is a wait-and-see mode in that situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders jump on a Meyers extension in the near future.
The rookies:
The Raiders drafted offensive linemen Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant in the third round. Many thought those moves could be insurance if Miller were to leave in 2026. Now that Miller is secured, don’t look at these as wasted picks. Rogers can play both guard and tackle and Grant could also be in the mxi at right tackle. You can never develop enough offensive linemen.