Raiders 2024 depth chart: Thayer Munford ready to start at right tackle

One of the most watched players on the Las Vegas Raiders this training camp and preseason will be third-year offensive lineman Thayer Munford.

The 2022 seventh-round pick will get the first chance to be the starting right tackle in 2024.

Coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco said Munford deserved the opportunity to show he could start and that plan was cemented when the Raiders opted not to play the position, either in free agency or early in the draft.

So now it’s up to Munford, who played well filling in for injured Kolton Miller for stints at left tackle in 2023, to show he can get the job done.

During recent OTA sessions, Munford made it clear he’s up for the challenge and he believes he’s grown a lot during his short NFL career.

“The difference between day and night. Night and day difference between my first year, my second year and now. Now I’m like, ‘All right, I know I can play, I know I can go against one of the best, especially with Maxx (Crosby) and everyone we’re going to play this year,'” Munford said. And I know what I can do, so all I have to do now is tap into my potential, do it and help everyone else on the team as well.

Munford said he heard the talk that the Raiders needed to draft a right tackle early and was ready to make his point.

“I kind of get them, but at the same time, they’re not there,” Munford said. “But I don’t really care what they say. I know what I can do, and the team knows what I can do, so they trust me right now and I won’t let anyone down.

It helps Munford that the Raiders’ new system under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and offensive line coach James Greg is the same as Ohio State’s.

“It actually worked out pretty well because it’s the same system that I’m used to at Ohio State, because we were more like an Ohio State spread,” Munford said. It’s pretty good.”

Everything is set up for Mu Ford to succeed at right tackle. The time has come for him to show it.