After an offseason marked by strategic moves and rebuilding under Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, the Las Vegas Raiders still face a glaring weakness heading into the 2025 season: the right guard position. Despite signing veteran Alex Cappa to a two-year, $11.2 million deal in free agency, the move has not has not reassured fans or analysts that the offensive line will take the leap it needs to compete in the AFC West. Cappa’s 2024 season with the Cincinnati Bengals was statistically one of the worst among all qualified guards according to Pro Football Focus, and the Raiders should make a bold move to trade for Carolina Panthers right guard Robert Hunt, one of the most consistent and productive interior offensive linemen in the NFL.
Despite recently signing a five-year, $100 million deal with the Panthers during 2024 NFL free agency, the Raiders would be wise to explore trade avenues. Hunt’s presence would immediately elevate the Raiders’ offensive line and set the tone for a more physical brand of football in 2025.
Why the Raiders Should Trade for Panthers Guard Robert Hunt
GettyRobert Hunt #50 of the Carolina Panthers running onto the field.
Hunt has quietly developed into one of the premier run-blocking guards in the NFL. According to PFF, Hunt is the 16th-best guard heading into the 2025 season and has earned a run-blocking grade of at least 70.0 in four of his five NFL seasons, including each of the past three. His dominance at the point of attack and ability to move defenders off their spots make him a perfect fit for what new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly wants to implement on the Raiders’ offense.
While Hunt’s pass-blocking metrics dipped during his first season in Carolina, context matters. The Panthers’ offensive line struggled as a unit, and quarterback Bryce Young’s tendency to hold onto the ball exacerbated pressures on the stat sheet. Regardless, Hunt would be a major upgrade over Cappa.
In fact, despite playing a high volume of snaps (1,132 in 2024, 4th-most among guards), Cappa was a major liability on the field. His overall PFF grade of 50.5 ranked 111th out of 136 qualified guards. Even worse, his 39.7 pass-blocking grade and 54.9 run-blocking mark placed him near the bottom of the league. At this stage in his career, Cappa is not the solution the Raiders need if they hope to protect Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty.
Seriously, Cappa might be a huge headache during the season, and there should be more pressure on the Raiders to make a move at right guard.
Hard for me to complain about the #Panthers lack of passing yardage production when your OL and RBs doing this lol
Watch Cade Mays, Robert Hunt And Chuba Hubbard on this play. This is how you impose your will. pic.twitter.com/zjs3bNa5JH
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) November 11, 2024
The Raiders Should Prioritize Winning in the Trenches
The Panthers would be extremely stubborn to trade Hunt away, but the Raiders have the resources to make it work. It would take at least one Day 2 pick and a player for the Panthers to be interested, but for a move of this importance, it’s well worth the investment.
Hunt could be the last piece towards solidifying the offensive line unit for years to come. If Carolina is willing to listen, Spytek should be on the phone immediately.
In today’s NFL, games are still won and lost in the trenches. If the Raiders want to close the gap between themselves and the elite teams in the AFC, trading for Hunt could be the start of something special.
