As positive as things were during Antonio Pierce’s run as the Las Vegas Raiders’ interim head coach last season, there remained an awareness that what the team accomplished wasn’t good enough. Under Pierce, the Raiders went 5-4 (to finish 8-9 overall) and missed the playoffs.
When Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco went into this offseason, they knew the roster needed plenty of work. While they could still add to the roster — they have about $34 million in cap space according to Over the Cap — most of the squad is in place. Pierce and Telesco built the team with the future in mind, but they still expect to be better in 2024.
Here’s how the Raiders roster compares to last season:
Swaggering boisterously 🏴☠️ #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/TKYG50cwnO
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 1, 2024
They’re better at …
Tight end
Players: Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Harrison Bryant, Cole Fotheringham, Zach Gentry, John Samuel Shenker
Losses: Austin Hooper, Jesper Horsted
Reason for confidence: Bowers is a rookie and will have growing pains, but he could create a fearsome receiving duo alongside Mayer that creates mismatches from Day 1. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has had success using multiple tight ends in the past and will almost certainly implement a similar strategy.
Reason for concern: Mayer improved substantially as a blocker by the end of last season, but he was still just OK. Bowers was a similar caliber of blocker in college, and it’ll take time for him to adjust to blocking NFL defenders. Bryant is a strong blocker, but the Raiders want to keep Bowers and Mayer on the field as much as possible. For this group to maximize its potential, they’ll both need to contribute as blockers on rushing plays.
Outlook: It’s yet to be determined whether Bowers or Mayer will start. The Raiders will use 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends and two receivers) often, but there will still be plenty of times when they only have one tight end on the field. Their position battle will be something to monitor throughout training camp. Either way, this should be a position of strength.
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Interior offensive line
Players: Andre James, Dylan Parham, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Andrus Peat, Cody Whitehair, Jordan Meredith, Will Putnam, Clark Barrington, Ben Brown, Jake Johanning
Losses: Hroniss Grasu, Greg Van Roten
Reason for confidence: James and Parham were quality starters last season and, while Powers-Johnson is a rookie, he should be an upgrade over what the Raiders got from Van Roten last season. The Raiders also have excellent depth here. Peat can start at either guard spot in case of injury, while Whitehair can start at guard or center.
Reason for concern: Powers-Johnson battled injuries in college including groin and hip issues and multiple concussions. He also missed the majority of the Raiders’ offseason team activities due to a shoulder injury. The Raiders have insurance in case he can’t stay on the field, but that’d lower the ceiling of the interior O-line.
Outlook: James will start at center for the fourth consecutive season. After spending most of his first two seasons at left guard, Parham will switch to right guard. Assuming he’s healthy, Powers-Johnson will take over at left guard. All three players are young and under team control for multiple seasons, so the Raiders are in position to have continuity here for years to come.
Defensive tackle
Players: Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins, Adam Butler, Matthew Butler, Byron Young, Nesta Jade Silvera, Marquan McCall, Noah Shannon, Tomari Fox
Losses: Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols
Reason for confidence: Wilkins is a star who was a disruptive force as a pass rusher and run stopper for the Miami Dolphins last season. Jenkins is a formidable run stuffer and Adam Butler provides pass-rush juice off the bench. This is easily the best defensive tackle group the Raiders have had this decade.
Reason for concern: Before posting 9 1/2 sacks last season, Wilkins’ previous career high was 4 1/2. If he’s not able to finish with somewhere close to double-digit sacks this season, it’d be a disappointment. Jenkins and Adam Butler are known commodities, but the rest of the group is a mystery. It’s unclear if any of the younger players would be able to step up if needed.
Outlook: Wilkins and Jenkins will be the primary starters, while Adam Butler will be the first defensive tackle off the bench. With that trio, the Raiders should be strong against the run and be able to get after quarterbacks.
Linebacker
Players: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo, Luke Masterson, Tommy Eichenberg, Kana’i Mauga, Amari Burney, Darien Butler, Amari Gainer
Losses: Curtis Bolton
Reason for confidence: Spillane has always been a thumper in the run game, but he was excellent in pass coverage last season and was one of the most complete linebackers in football. Deablo is a quality running mate, while Masterson gives the Raiders a third starting-caliber linebacker. There’s also a chance Eichenberg could grow into a fourth by the end of the season.
Reason for concern: Perhaps Spillane regresses in pass coverage and Deablo’s durability issues reemerge. Outside of that, it’s hard to find a hole in this group.
Outlook: Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham uses a nickel package as his base defense, so Spillane and Deablo will be the only two linebackers on the field most of the time. Masterson and Eichenberg still provide a lot of value as depth options who can also contribute on special teams.
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They’re worse at …
Running back
Players: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Dylan Laube, Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick
Losses: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Brandon Bolden, Austin Walter
Reason for confidence: During his four-game stretch as the starter at the end of last season, White was one of the most productive rushers in the league. He’ll be 25 this season, and it seems like he’ll be ready to carry a larger workload. Mattison is a solid No. 2 option and should be able to help keep White from getting worn down.
Reason for concern: The Raiders can turn to Mattison if White falls short of expectations, but he didn’t handle a lead-back role well last season. Across 13 starts with the Minnesota Vikings, he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and totaled 700 rushing yards. Although Jacobs had a down year as he struggled with injuries and suffered from poor blocking, he still provided a Pro Bowl-level of play the Raiders now lack.
Outlook: The Raiders should have better blocking this season, which would make White’s task easier. Mattison’s presence means the Raiders don’t have to run White into the ground, while either Abdullah or Laube will serve as the third-down back.
Raiders running back Zamir White ran for 397 yards and a touchdown over the final four games of 2023. (Denny Medley / USA Today)
They’re about the same at …
Quarterback
Players: Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Brown, Carter Bradley
Losses: Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer
Reason for confidence: O’Connell will be 26 this season, but he’s still only a second-year player and theoretically has room to improve. Minshew has 37 career starts and is good enough to give the Raiders a competent solution if O’Connell doesn’t step up.
Reason for concern: O’Connell and Minshew were below-average quarterbacks last season. And while it’s too early to sound the alarm, neither looked good during OTAs. Neither is particularly gifted physically, so they’ll be reliant on the scheme and the players around them to carry a lot of the burden.
Outlook: The competition for the starting job will continue leading up to the regular season. In an ideal world, O’Connell would retain his role while Minshew serves as an experienced backup who can provide guidance and step in if needed.
Receiver
Players: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Michael Gallup, Jalen Guyton, DJ Turner, Kristian Wilkerson, Tyreik McAllister, Ramel Keyton, Lideatrick Griffin, Jeff Foreman, Alex Bachman
Losses: Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Carter
Reason for confidence: Adams had an “underwhelming” season by his standards in 2023 and still finished with 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s in the latter stages of his prime at 31 but remains one of the best receivers in the league. Meyers is one of the better No. 2 receivers in the league and should continue to benefit from the attention Adams draws. The Raiders believe Tucker is set to take a Year 2 leap and provide an upgrade over Renfrow in the slot.
Reason for concern: There isn’t a strong alternative at slot receiver if Tucker doesn’t show progress. Gallup and Guyton can line up in the slot if needed, but neither player has had much success there.
Outlook: There’s little doubt that Adams and Meyers will excel on the outside. And if Tucker disappoints in the slot, the Raiders can rotate Adams, Meyers, Bowers and Mayer there to make up for it. Between the receivers and tight ends, the Raiders have one of the best pass-catching units in the league on paper.
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Offensive tackle
Players: Kolton Miller, Thayer Munford Jr., DJ Glaze, Dalton Wagner, Andrew Coker, Jalen McKenzie
Losses: Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker
Reason for confidence: Miller has been a consistently good left tackle for years now. Munford has never been a full-time starter, but he has started games at both left and right tackle and lined up often as a sixth offensive lineman. The aforementioned Peat will primarily play guard, but he has the versatility to step outside and become the swing tackle.
Reason for concern: Munford may not succeed as a full-time starter. If that’s the case, the Raiders don’t have a great alternative. Miller struggled to stay healthy last season and was still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery during OTAs. Glaze could have long-term potential, but he’s more of a project. The Raiders just don’t have much of a backup plan here.
Outlook: Barring injury, Miller and Munford will be the starters. Even if they’re just solid, that should give the Raiders a better offensive line given the improvements they made on the interior.
Defensive end
Players: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, Tyree Wilson, Janarius Robinson, TJ Franklin, Elerson Smith, Charles Snowden, Ron Stone Jr., David Agoha
Losses: N/A
Reason for confidence: Crosby played through knee and thumb injuries last season and was still a second-team All-Pro. He’s healthy after offseason surgery and should be even better with Wilkins drawing attention toward the interior of the defensive line. Koonce came on strong as a pass rusher last season, and the Raiders are confident Wilson will bounce back after a rough rookie season.
Reason for concern: Koonce had a hell of a nine-game stretch to end last season, but it was still just nine games. There’s a chance he won’t replicate that performance. Plus, he’s a weak link against the run. And if Wilson can’t become a reliable contributor this season, the Raiders will be short on pass-rush help off the bench.
Outlook: Crosby is sensational, but he’ll need help from Koonce and Wilson for the D-line to become special. That’ll ultimately decide whether the defense can make the jump from good to great.
Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce had eight sacks and three forced fumbles last season. (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)
Cornerback
Players: Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, Jakorian Bennett, Brandon Facyson, Decamerion Richardson, M.J. Devonshire, Sam Webb, Cornell Armstrong, Demarcus Governor, Ja’Quan Sheppard, Rayshad Williams
Losses: Amik Robertson, Tyler Hall
Reason for confidence: Jones played at an elite level after joining the Raiders midseason last year. He’s adept at making plays on the ball, is consistent in coverage and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty as a tackler. Hobbs has become one of the better nickelbacks in the NFL and has the versatility to move outside in a pinch.
Reason for concern: The Raiders have no clue who’s going to start at the other cornerback spot. Facyson and Bennett rotated with the starters throughout OTAs, but neither had a clear edge over the other. Perhaps a rookie such as Richardson or Devonshire could get into the mix during training camp. If none of the players separate themselves as the season draws closer, the Raiders may have to turn to free agency.
Outlook: Jones and Hobbs are locks as starters, but the Raiders need to find an answer at outside cornerback. Until that happens, it’s hard to feel great about this group.
Safety
Players: Marcus Epps, Tre’von Moehrig, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Chris Smith II, Trey Taylor, Phalen Sanford, Jaydon Grant
Losses: N/A
Reason for confidence: Epps and Moehrig were a great duo last season, and that should still be the case this year. Pola-Mao has the edge on the third safety role, but Smith and Taylor are other backups who could be in the mix. This is a young, deep group that’ll make an impact both on defense and special teams.
Reason for concern: Moehrig had a good season last year making plays on the ball with three interceptions and eight pass deflections, but the Raiders could use more from their safeties in that department. As a team, the Raiders had just 13 interceptions (T-17th) and 51 pass deflections (last). They’ll need the entire secondary to make strides in that area to become elite against the pass.
Outlook: Epps and Moehrig are unquestioned starters. Graham uses three safeties often — Pola-Mao played 130 snaps last season — so the competition for the third safety role will be an important one to watch during training camp.
Specialist
Players: Daniel Carlson, AJ Cole, Jacob Bobenmoyer
Losses: N/A
Reason for confidence: The Raiders have arguably the best kicking battery in the league.
Reason for concern: Cole may spend too much time in the locker room talking about aliens.
Outlook: Carlson — and every other kicker in the league — has had to make a major adjustment due to the NFL’s new kickoff rule. He’s working fervently with special teams coach Tom McMahon to figure out how to take advantage of field position on kickoff returns. That process will likely continue into the season.
(Top photo of Brock Bowers and Harrison Bryant: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
