Raiders Roster Criticized by ESPN Ahead of 2024 Season
The Las Vegas Raiders are hopeful about the 2024 season, but outside opinions differ. ESPN ranked all projected NFL starting lineups and placed the Raiders at No. 26.
A major factor for the low ranking is the quarterback situation.
“Perhaps the league’s most underwhelming QB situation will involve a battle between 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and veteran newcomer Gardner Minshew,” wrote Mike Clay on June 25. “Minshew performed solidly (13th in QBR) filling in for the injured Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis last season, while O’Connell managed (25th) after replacing Jimmy Garoppolo in Las Vegas. The Raiders need O’Connell to make significant progress and become a valuable Day 3 find.”
Although the Raiders have one of the weaker quarterback groups in the NFL, it should be better than last season. O’Connell started 10 games and could improve in his second year, and Minshew is expected to be more durable and a better deep-ball passer than Garoppolo. The team also upgraded by adding defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and tight end Brock Bowers. Las Vegas had the 21st-best record in the NFL last season, so a significant regression seems unlikely.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Biggest Strength?
Despite the low ranking, ESPN highlighted some positives. The Raiders’ defensive line was named their biggest strength.
“The Raiders already had one of the league’s best edge rushers in Maxx Crosby (fourth in the league with 27.0 sacks and first among edge rushers with 178 tackles over the past two seasons) and added one of the league’s top defensive tackles in Christian Wilkins (fifth among DTs with 9.0 sacks in 2023) during free agency,” Clay noted. “Malcolm Koonce has emerged as a solid edge, and the Raiders expect a leap from 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson this season. DT depth behind Wilkins is a concern, but this unit has plenty of potential.”
The Raiders need their defensive line to excel this season, as they didn’t significantly invest in their secondary or linebackers. The defensive line will be crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the defense.
Las Vegas Raiders Need CBs to Step Up
The Raiders have not made significant additions to their secondary this offseason, relying instead on young players from last season’s roster.
This approach could be either beneficial or problematic. ESPN identified cornerback as the biggest X-factor for the Raiders in 2024.
“Cornerbacks Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett, and Nate Hobbs,” wrote Seth Walder. “The defensive line is clearly a strength, as Mike mentioned. So the success of this defense will rise or fall with the three corners. Jones, claimed off waivers from New England last year, recorded a slightly better than average 1.2 yards per coverage snap allowed last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Hobbs (1.6) and Bennett (1.7) were worse in the metric — though Bennett’s numbers came in a small sample. Vegas will need at least some of this group to step up in 2024.”
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