Las Vegas Raiders 2023 Preview: A Star-Studded Roster With A Question Mark At QB

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.

I watched all-22 footage on every team and reconciled it with advanced stats such as PFF. Based on film and stats, I develop grades for every position by using a formula that takes into account every player on the depth chart. Shout out to TFG for inspiring this kind of content. Please use code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.

Grading scale: 20-100.

(+): The player is expected to improve.

Team Overview

Coaching Staff

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.

Offense

Overall Offense – 79.9 (16th)

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.

Defense

Overall Defense – 79.1 (23rd)

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.

Raiders Schedule

Total Win Projection – 6.7