The Las Vegas Raiders signed free agent Spencer Burford on Tuesday, giving the team another option to start on the interior of the offensive line.
Burford spent his first four seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, including in 2023 when new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was an assistant on the 49ers.
The 25-year-old Burford started 38 games in the regular season and five more in the playoffs for San Francisco, playing mostly at right guard and left guard. Burford has limited experience at tackle but could be in the mix to compete for a starting guard spot in Las Vegas with Jordan Meredith.
The Raiders bolstered their offensive line early in free agency when they signed center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million contract that was the richest ever given to a center.
The team also is hoping to have left tackle Kolton Miller back healthy after he missed 13 games with injuries last season. Jackson Powers-Johnson, a second-round pick in 2024, has the inside track at one guard spot with D.J. Glaze and 2025 third-rounder Charles Grant expected to compete at right tackle.
The Raiders struggled on the line last season under position coach Brennan Carroll, whose father, Pete, was the head coach. Las Vegas allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks and was last in rushing yards per game (77.5) and per attempt (3.57). The Raiders fired Pete Carroll after one season and revamped the offensive coaching staff under Kubiak, who hired Rick Dennison as his offensive line coach.
Burford started 16 games as a rookie for San Francisco in 2022 but lost his starting job the following season in the playoffs when he played only as a reserve. His blown assignment in overtime of the Super Bowl that season denied the Niners a chance at a possible touchdown in a game they eventually lost 25-22 to Kansas City.
Burford moved back in the starting lineup last season after Ben Bartch got hurt, but was tied for the worst pass blocking efficiency rating among 77 guards with at least 200 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Raiders also announced that restricted free agent defensive lineman Thomas Booker IV signed his $3.7 million tender and will remain on the team. Las Vegas acquired Booker during training camp last year from Philadelphia in a deal for cornerback Jakorian Bennett.
Booker played all 17 games with 13 starts in his first season with the Raiders, recording 44 tackles, seven quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five passes defensed.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Spencer Burford (74) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger,File)
MIAMI (AP) — After nearly getting eliminated in the group stage last week, the United States is playing Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday night in a game with political overtones.
Aaron Judge, Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber lead a U.S. lineup seeking to win the Americans' second title and first title since 2017.
“Putting U.S. on your chest and going out there and competing obviously means the world,” said Nolan McLean, a 24-year-old rookie pitcher who starts for the U.S. against Eduardo Rodríguez.
Venezuela, headed by All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez, seeks it first championship in the sixth edition of an event that launched in 2006. Miami and its suburbs have a large Venezuelan population, and the team has had a festive fan presence at loanDepot park.
“As Venezuelan players, we are playing for our country,” Garcia said after Monday night's 4-2 semifinal win over Italy. “And, of course, putting Latin America in a high position, showing that we have great baseball, we have great talent.”
Players and coaches avoided discussing the political turmoil between the U.S. and Venezuela, heightened since the U.S. military captured Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in January.
“We’re here to speak baseball,” Acuña said. “Our country deserves the game tomorrow.”
U.S. President Donald Trump referenced Venezuela's tournament advancement in a social media post, writing: “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?"
Venezuela upset three-time winner Japan 8-5 on Saturday to reach its first semifinal since losing to South Korea in 2009.
“This is the responsibility that I take to give joy to my country,” manager Omar López said. “It was the dream that I shared with everyone, to be in this situation.”
Mark DeRosa is managing the U.S. in the tournament for the second time after losing 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 final, a game that memorably ended with Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout. The Americans beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday on homers by Gunnar Henderson and Anthony to reach the championship.
“I feel like we haven’t played our complete game yet,” Henderson said.
This story was updated to correct that Venezuela beat Japan in the quarterfinals, not the semifinals.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
A USA fan shakes hands with a Dominican Republic fan before a World Baseball Classic semifinal game between the teams, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
United States' Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates his home run during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Venezuela fans cheer the team during the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Italy, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
United States' Aaron Judge celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Monday, March 9, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Venezuela team celebrates after defeating Italy at a World Baseball Classic semifinal game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
