After a highly disappointing season in Las Vegas, they find themselves in a unique situation. The roster has multiple superstar talents with an offensive coach worth his salt, but the QB situation will likely hold this team back. It’s not like Jimmy G can’t go on to succeed in this offense, but he’s a massive injury risk. The odds he’ll play every game for Black and Silver are slim. However, he should run a highly entertaining offense when he’s in.
I feel the Raiders were planning on drafting Paris Johnson Jr. but couldn’t, which is a shame. On the bright side, Tyree Wilson was a fantastic addition. Having another receiver to throw to in Jakobi Meyers is also nice. Last year Davante Adams was the only reliable target for a good portion of the year. Dave Ziegler has established a talented roster, but whether they can make it to the playoffs with Josh McDaniels and Garoppolo is a big question. The AFC is loaded with legit playoff teams, and winning in that conference will be highly challenging.
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Grading scale: 20-100.
(+): The player is expected to improve.
| Power Ranking – 23 | OVR Grade – 79.4 | Projected Wins – 6.7 |
| HC – Josh McDaniels | OC – Mick Lombardi | DC – Patrick Graham |
Josh McDaniels had a rough first year but has a good chance at bouncing back. His offensive scheme is ideal for Garoppolo and the O-Linemen they have. Quick-hitting passes are heavily prevalent in this offense, and the run game is primarily a gap scheme. Last year, there was a healthy balance of deep attempts, but that number should come down a bit. In that regard, Garoppolo doesn’t have the arm or deep accuracy to thrive. I’d expect to see more screens and possibly more play-action to suit Garoppolo’s play style better. Overall, it’s a quality offensive staff, and it’ll be a fun offense if everyone is healthy.
Patrick Graham is one of my favorite defensive coordinators in the NFL. His defense last year was underwhelming, but with another off-season spent with the team and new additions, he is primed for a comeback. Like Mike Vrabel, Graham’s system stems from Bill Belichick. He primarily uses a 3-3-5 odd scheme and is known for using multiple fronts. However, he used fewer multiple fronts last year, as Chandler Jones doesn’t do well in coverage. The coverage scheme can get complex at times, but he primarily runs a single high defense with a lot of cover three and cover one. It’s arguably the most unique system in the league, and it’s a defense I root for because of Graham’s presence.
| Playcalling – 83 (T15) |
| Scheme – Pro |
| QB – 74.5 (T24) |
| Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell, Brian Hoyer |
| Receiving Options – 88.9 (2) |
| WR1 – Davante Adams, Keelan Cole Sr., Cam Sims WR2 – Jakobi Meyers, Philip Dorsett SWR – Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Carter, Tre Tucker TE – Austin Hooper, Michael Mayer, O.J. Howard, Jesper Horsted FB – Jakob Johnson HB – Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, Brandon Bolden |
| Pass-Pro – 76.6 (24) |
| LT – Kolton Miller, Justin Herron LG – Dylan Parham, Greg Van Roten C – Andre James, Hroniss Grasu RG – Alex Bars, Netane Muti RT – Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker, Thayer Munford Jr. HB – Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, Brandon Bolden |
| Run Blocking – 74.0 (T27) |
| LT – Kolton Miller, Justin Herron LG – Dylan Parham, Greg Van Roten C – Andre James, Hroniss Grasu RG – Alex Bars, Netane Muti RT – Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker, Thayer Munford Jr. TE – Austin Hooper, Michael Mayer, O.J. Howard, Jesper Horsted FB – Jakob Johnson |
| Run Options – 89.4 (5) |
| HB – Josh Jacobs, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden |
Despite losing one of the most potent receiving tight ends in football, Las Vegas has plenty of receiving talent to disperse the ball to. Davante Adams is unarguably one of the most excellent Receivers in football and is an outstanding number-one option. He’s also a quick separator which will bode well with Garoppolo’s playstyle. Hunter Renfrow, when healthy, is an intelligent and crafty slot Receiver to rely on. Las Vegas did a remarkable job of replacing Waller by signing Austin Hooper and drafting Michael Mayer.
Where this offense will struggle is in the trenches. Besides Kolton Miller, there isn’t one other guy you feel confident starting. Granted, Kolton Miller makes a tremendous impact, but teams can scheme around one player. Dylan Parham could potentially step up and help solidify the left side. Until that happens, this is projected to be one of the worst O-Lines. If the ball gets out quickly, like Garoppolo is so good, this offense can put up some points. It’ll just take a joint effort from the defense to win games, as this offense isn’t good enough to carry the team.
| Coaching – 82 (T16) |
| Scheme – 3-3-5 Odd |
| Secondary – 77.7 (24) |
| CB1 – Nate Hobbs, Brandon Facyson, Sam Webb CB2 – David Long Jr., Amike Robertson SCB – Duke Shelly, Jakorian Bennett FS – Tre’von Moehrig, Chris Smith II SS – Marcus Epps, Jaquan Johnson, Roderic Teamer |
| Pass Rush – 83.5 (T11) |
| ED1 – Maxx Crosby, Jordan Willis ED2 – Chandler Jones, Tyree Wilson, Malcolm Koonce IDL1 – Bilal Nichols, Neil Farrell Jr., Byron Young IDL2 – Jerry Tillery, Adam Bulter, John Jenkins |
| Off-Ball Linebacker – 73.1 (29) |
| LB1 – Robert Spillane, Darien Butler, Curtis Bolton LB2 – Divine Deablo, Luke Masterson, Drake Thomas |
| Run Defense – 76.5 (23) |
| ED1 – Maxx Crosby, Jordan Willis ED2 – Chandler Jones, Tyree Wilson, Malcolm Koonce IDL1 – Bilal Nichols, Jerry Tillery, Byron Young IDL2 – Neil Farrell Jr., Adam Bulter, John Jenkins |
This defense, led by Maxx Crosby, is an all-around decent group of players. The linebacker room is looking thin and depleted of high-end talent, but everything else is sound besides that. Tyree Wilson is going to have an excellent mentor in Chandler Jones to help aid him in his development. As Crosby is now on a long-term contract, the future of the Raider’s pass rush is promising. You worry about the interior a bit, but at the same time, Crosby will draw a lot of attention away.
In the secondary, Trevon Moehrig is a stellar ascending Free Safety who has a knack for forcing incompletions. Moreover, Nate Hobbs is a young and talented corner. He isn’t ideal for covering most teams’ X-Receivers, but he may take a step up this year. Divine Deablo is also a fun player worth noting. He has the coverage skills to take on Tight Ends and Backs. It’s a group that meshes well together, and it should be one of the most fascinating defenses to watch this year.
| Special Teams – 80 |
| K – Daniel Carlson P – AJ Cole LS – Jacob Bobenmoyer KR – Tre Tucker, DeAndre Carter PR – DeAndre Carter |
Total Win Projection – 6.7
| WK | Las Vegas | Win % |
| 1 | @ Denver | 33% |
| 2 | @ Buffalo | 20% |
| 3 | vs Pittsburgh | 50% |
| 4 | @ L.A. Chargers | 33% |
| 5 | vs Green Bay | 57% |
| 6 | vs New England | 50% |
| 7 | @ Chicago | 50% |
| 8 | @ Detroit | 33% |
| 9 | vs N.Y. Giants | 43% |
| 10 | vs N.Y. Jets | 33% |
| 11 | @ Miami | 20% |
| 12 | vs Kansas City | 33% |
| 13 | BYE | |
| 14 | vs Minnesota | 43% |
| 15 | vs L.A. Chargers | 43% |
| 16 | @ Kansas City | 20% |
| 17 | @ Indianapolis | 57% |
| 18 | vs Denver | 50% |
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