Jordan Meredith was a standout offensive lineman at Western Kentucky, after being a standout at Bowling Green high school in Kentucky. Meredith didn’t see significant play time till 2018 where the then redshirt Sophomore started all 12 games allowing a sack and 11 pressures. 2019 was no different where Meredith allowed just 7 pressures and three sacks across 13 games while also being named first team All-CUSA and an Honorable Mention All-American. 2020 was just another year for Meredith, where the redshirt senior started every game for the Hilltoppers allowing one sack and nine pressures. Meredith was named a preseason 1st team All-CUSA recipient along with being a 1st team All-CUSA selection, and 2nd team All-American. Meredith then logged a 9.35 RAS score including a notable 1.75 10-split, 5.08 40, 4.62 shuttle, and 32’ vert. Despite these numbers, the 6’3/300 guard went undrafted. Meredith signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent but was released after the preseason after allowing 3 pressures across 89 snaps. The Raiders picked up Meredith in February of 2022. The Raiders retained Meredith on their practice squad till 2024, where the former UDFA made the initial 53 man roster.
Meredith making the roster shouldn’t have came at a surprise. The now 4 year veteran had logged three straight preseasons with the Raiders with a PFF grade over 70, and allowed just 1 pressure across nearly 200 pass blocking attempts during that time. Meredith was consistently among the highest graded offensive lineman in preseason and after back to back seasons allowing 0 pressures it was deserved to give him a shot at the 53 man roster. After playing all but 1 snap in college at right guard, Meredith spent time at both left and right guard along with center for the Raiders in preseason. 2024 saw Meredith earn the opportunity he had been waiting for. Following an injury to Dylan Parham in week 6 vs the Steelers, Meredith entered and in 43 snaps (34 PBLK) allowed 0 pressures and earned a 79.5 PFF Grade. Meredith retained his starting spot in weeks 7 and 8 allowing just 1 pressure. Once Parham returned, Meredith slid to left guard and remained the starter there till an injury in week 15 causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Through 574 snaps, Meredith allowed just 9 pressures and 0 sacks. His 80.8 PFF Grade was top 10 among NFL guards as were his 78.4 RBLK and 75.7 PBLK grades. Meredith became a sneaky free agent target, with some from other teams hoping the Raiders wouldn’t put an ERFA tender on Meredith due to staff turnover, however the Raiders did just that.
Meredith transitioned to center for the Raiders, and in week 1 he played well allowing 0 pressures and having a perfect log in the run game with 0 blown blocks. The Raiders transitioning of Meredith to center came as a surprise, given Jackson Powers-Johnson play there in 2024. Meredith is set to be an RFA after this season and the Raiders will more than likely retain him either win a 1st or 2nd round tender before he hits the market fully in 2027. However, the Raiders should entertain the idea of signing Meredith to a long term extension and thus ignoring the entire RFA segment. As an RFA, teams are able to negotiate with Meredith, and thus submit him an offer-sheet where the Raiders then are required to match the deal or they can lose Meredith to some form of draft compensation. The 27 year old center will likely be a hot name on the market, and leaving the odds to another team to dictate what the contract is won’t likely sit favorably with the Raiders.
Currently, Meredith’s projected market value is 4 years, 44 million with 21 million guaranteed. The Raiders were already looking to ink Meredith to a long term extension in 2024, but couldn’t come to an agreement and as a result placed the ERFA tender on him. 11 million a year would put Meredith as the NFL’s 6th highest paid center and while rich for limited snaps at the position, and as an NFL starter in general, it’s worth noting that standouts Ethan Pocic, Josh Myers, and Tyler Linderbaum are set to be UFA’s in 2025 which will push the market upwards as well. In 2026, Aaron Brewer, Tyler Biadasz, Ryan Kelly, Ryan Neuzil, and Joe Tippmann are all slated to hit the market as well and could earn north of 9 million a season. The center market is rapidly exploding, the NFL is currently seeing the guard market skyrocket, and center will likely be the next to go up as well. The Raiders clearly value Meredith, and so far he’s produced beyond expectations. Las Vegas should look to get ahead of the free agent market and ink Meredith to a long term extension, that allows them financial felxibility as well. As for Meredith, the deal would guarantee him money and allow for him to still potentially hit the market again at 30 or 31 years old where veteran centers are highly paid.
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