The season is approaching. The DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. The Las Vegas Raiders are a franchise for which it is very difficult to predict the 2024 results. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
Praised or criticized, the city of Las Vegas leaves no one indifferent. Its football team, on the other hand, would go almost unnoticed. Not totally, because its logo is known worldwide. On the other hand, from a sporting point of view, the silver and black franchise has had two positive seasons out of the last twenty-one.
Interim coach in 2023, Antonio Pierce has been confirmed in his role. Due to the five games won out of the nine managed and because his personality is unanimous in the locker room.
With some continuity in terms of the workforce, can the Raiders finally fill the superb Allegiant Stadium for sporting reasons?
Last season: 8 wins and 9 losses, 2nd in AFC West, no playoffs
Off-season movements
Notable arrivals: Christian Wilkins (DT), Gardner Minshew (QB), Andrus Peat (OG), Cody Whitehair (IOL), Harrison Bryant (TE), Alexander Mattison (RB),
Re-signings: Antonio Pierce (coach), Andre James (OC), Ameer Abdullah (KR), Isaiah Pola-Mao (S), John Jenkins and Adam Butler (DT)
Draft: Brock Bowers (TE), Jackson Powers-Johnson (IOL), Delmar Glaze (OT), Decamerion Richardson (CB), Tommy Eichenberg (LB), Dylan Laube (RB), Trey Taylor (S), MJ Devonshire (CB ).
Notable departures: Josh Jacobs (RB), Hunter Renfrow (WR), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB)
Very few changes between the 2023 and 2024 rosters. Note the signing of the coveted Christian Wilkins. As well as the departure of Josh Jacobs, who was unanimous among fans for five seasons.
It's more at the coaching level that the philosophy has changed. Antonio Pierce is assisted by the man who was already his mentor when he started coaching at Arizona State: Marvin Lewis and his sixteen years at the head of the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. Luke Getsy arrives from Chicago to be the new offensive coordinator.
The position coaching squad is also renewed: offensive line, tight ends, runners, cornerbacks, safeties. With 22 of the 24 starters back (attack, defense and specialists), Las Vegas is banking on a new lease of life brought by the coaching staff.
The Las Vegas Raiders All-Star Team
Quarterback: Aidan O'Connell Runner: Zamir White Receivers: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers Tight ends: Michael Mayer, Brock Bowers Offensive line: Kolton Miller, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Andre James, Dylan Parham, Thayer Munford Kicker: Daniel Carlson
Defensive Line: Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, Malcolm Koonce Linebackers: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo Cornerbacks: Jack Jones, Brandon Facyson, Jakorian Bennett, Nate Hobbs (NB) Safeties: Tre'von Moehrig, Marcus Epps Punter: AJ Cole
Las Vegas Raiders Highlights
The Raiders' defensive line is intimidating! Maxx Crosby has 52 sacks in 5 years and Christian Wilkins can do everything inside. Not only is the duo complementary, but their respective presences give each other more freedom of action.
The 3-2-6 defensive scheme advocated by Antonio Pierce and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, most often leaves only three men on the defensive line. This position will be occupied in rotation. Malcolm Koonce signed 8 sacks in 2023, without even playing half of the possible actions. Versatile but disappointing, Tyree Wilson must now justify his status as a top 10 pick in the draft.
On offense, Las Vegas has plenty to go all-in on in the passing game! Davante Adams is a benchmark: over 10,000 yards and over 100 touchdowns in 10 NFL seasons. Alongside him, Jakobi Meyers is a very solid number 2 who has three consecutive seasons with over 800 yards. Tight end Brock Bowers offers another quality option for the passing game.
When the offense doesn't reach the end zone, all is not lost: Daniel Carlson allows three points. In 2023, he signs a perfect 10 of 10 between 20 and 29 yards and an excellent 9 of 10 between 40 and 49 yards. And if the drive was stopped too far to attempt a field goalthe Raiders know how to push their opponents as far as possible with AJ Cole who was voted best NFL punter in 2023.
The Weaknesses of the Las Vegas Raiders
In addition to the uncertainty at the most important position, Las Vegas is not reassuring on many other points. Because they did not want to pay Josh Jacobs, the running game will be entrusted to Zamir White, Alex Mattison and the rookie Dylan Laube. The latter has the particularity of also knowing how to contribute in the aerial game. But isn't this trio of runners the weakest among the 32 teams in competition?
Especially since the runners can hardly count on the quality of the offensive line to open breaches. Because tight end Brock Bowers seems to possess a rare talent, the staff passed on an offensive lineman in the 1st round of the 2024 draft: Taliese Fuaga, Amarius Mims and Troy Fautanu were all available with the 13th pick.
Antonio Pierce and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are capable. But what can two good craftsmen do without quality raw material? At cornerback, Jack Jones wouldn’t be the No. 1 cornerback anywhere else! Jakorian Bennett, Nate Hobbs, Brandon Facyson and Decamerion Richardson aren’t an intimidating group either. All of the NCAA cornerbacks were still available with the 13th pick in the 2024 draft.
In the duo of safeties, Tre'von Moehrig struggles to justify his rating coming out of college while Marcus Epps is a “mid-range” player at best, which does not reassure either. In front of them, the squad of linebackers is pitiful. Robert Spillane is valiant (148 tackles in 2023), as is the rookie Tommy Eichenberg. But the one recruited to make a real difference, Divine Deablo, has shown neither angelic nor devilish since his draft in 2021.
X-Factor: Aidan O'Connell (QB)
He got the job after Jimmy Garoppolo was injured in 2023. And when he was healthy again, Antonio Pierce chose the rookie over him. Now in his second year, Aidan O'Connell is playing big.
In the last four games of 2023, the Raiders have won three. Aidan O'Connell has thrown eight touchdowns and no interceptions. That's what the staff is banking on for 2024: the progression of a young player.
His profile is atypical because he was only chosen in the 4th round in 2024, but Brock Purdy's success in San Francisco is a source of fantasy. The position is his and the experienced and extravagant Gardner Minshew should only see the field in the event of injury: or several poor performances.
In 2024, Aidan O'Connell could surprise NFL fans: Or not.
Player to watch: Brock Bowers (TE)
A two-time college champion at Georgia and twice voted the NCAA's top tight end. Author of 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons, Brock Bowers is not your average tight end.
He is precise in his movements and has reliable hands (about 5% of drop). And because he played in a ground-based offense, he also knows how to block. He also showed his ability to feint opponents while carrying the ball.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy hasn't left Chicago with only good memories. But tight end Cole Kmet has become one of the best at his position under him. In 2023, Chicago's offense ranked 8th in the NFL in using two tight ends at the same time: 23.3% of offensive plays.
While Michael Mayer hasn't been as resplendent as Sam LaPorta (Detroit) in his first NFL season, he's still a player capable of making it into the league's top 10. In 2024, the Raiders will use the 12 personnel (2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB) because the two players are complementary and versatile.
Still very young (22 years old in December), Brock Bowers has the potential to become, in a few years, the best at his position in the NFL. This is why the Raiders recruited him, while this position was not a priority to improve.
Las Vegas Raiders 2024 Schedule
@Chargers, @Ravens, Panthers, Browns, @Broncos, Steelers, @Rams, Chiefs, @Bengals, BYE, @Dolphins, Broncos, @Chiefs, @Buccaneers, Falcons, Jaguars, @Saints, Chargers
The 2024 schedule is not easy. Based on 2023 results, it is the 8th most difficult. The nine games before the bye week feature at least five against clearly better teams (Ravens, Browns, Rams, Chiefs and Bengals).
If the Raiders can get to 5-4 or even 4-5 at this point, then there's hope. The team looks better than last year, and rivals Los Angeles and Denver have improved as well! The Chiefs, meanwhile, still look set to rule the AFC West.
The audio preview
In summary
The Raiders' roster is lifted by a few key individuals, but the average level of each starter seems a handicap. Even more so when it comes to the most important position in the sport, quarterback. Las Vegas is rolling the dice, but the odds of winning the bet seem slim.
However, every season a team creates a surprise, like the Texans in 2023. Raiders fans cling to this hope.
