The Raiders' adjustments to the offensive line have become the proverbial elephant in the room — one hard not to address.
However, not every elephant in a room should be considered a problem or a nuisance. This elephant should be pretty fun to watch. Like Dumbo, if you will.
Head Coach Jon Gruden addressed the media at an in-person press conference for the first time in more than a year Tuesday afternoon. He briefly spoke about the state of the offensive line after the team traded away three starters from last season.
Kolton Miller and Richie Incognito are currently the only two returning starters from last season after Miller signed an extension this offseason and the 38-year-old Incognito missed a large majority of last season with a foot injury. It was evident to Gruden with all the changes and challenges circulating around the offensive line, they had to find a way to lock down their left tackle of the future.
"You never want to lose good players, but we did. We lost some good players," Gruden said, referring to the offseason trades. "Salary cap went down this year for the first time, I believe, ever. There were some financial decisions we had to make. We feel that we have some emerging players.
"Kolton Miller, we felt that we had to get extended. You see some of these young left tackles and how much they've extended their contract for – it's astonishing. It's big money."
Gruden may be most impressed with their 2021 first-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood. The two-time national champion from Alabama has big expectations at the right tackle position. Offensive line coach Tom Cable was big on drafting Leatherwood as the Raiders felt that his size and athleticism was too big to pass up. Gruden believes that Leatherwood will be worth the hype.
"We love Leatherwood. We loved him at Alabama, he's off to a great start. He's got to back it up and we're going to try and help him. I have no doubt about him as a football player."
With Kolton Miller and Alex Leatherwood set to have the reins on the tackle positions, a big Training Camp will be crucial for both players.
View photos of Raiders coaches and players as they report to Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center for 2021 Training Camp.
The sun rises at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center as players arrive for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant offensive line coach Cameron Clemmons arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
A Las Vegas Raiders flag flies at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center as players arrive for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Kendal Vickers (93) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
A view inside Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center as players arrive for 2021 Training Camp, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Henderson, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (97) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Denzelle Good (71) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Denzelle Good (71) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard John Simpson (76) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Asmar Bilal (57) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Niles Scott (78) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake (23) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake (23) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Lester Cotton Sr. (67) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matt Dickerson (95) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matt Dickerson (95) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Liam McCullough (48) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Patrick Omameh (77) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Patrick Omameh (77) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Garrett Groshek (46) and wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) arrive for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Trey Ragas (36) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Matt Bushman (84) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) and kicker Daniel Carlson (2) arrive for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Parker Ehinger (62) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and fullback Alec Ingold (45) arrive for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dillon Stoner (16) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Nathan Peterman (3) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) arrives for 2021 Training Camp.
