This year, the Las Vegas Raiders will try and do something they have not done since 2002. Win a playoff game. The Raiders, formerly of Oakland, have endured two decades of average to poor football, making just two playoff appearances in that span. Las Vegas has gone through numerous head coaches during that time, all while having just two winning seasons. However, the outlook of Las Vegas Raiders football is trending upward, with former interim head coach turned frontman Antonio Pierce leading the charge this upcoming fall. Nevertheless, media power ESPN believes Pierce and company will have a tough time returning the Raiders to their 1970s glory with this year’s rendition of the Silver and Black’s roster.
On Tuesday, ESPN Plus, behind the contributions of multiple writers, published their 2024 NFL roster rankings. Clocking in at the 26th spot and the third worst among AFC members is the Las Vegas Raiders. Only the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots have a worse ranking regarding roster construction among AFC clubs. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders also rank behind Las Vegas.
ESPN: Las Vegas Raiders Roster Breakdown
According to ESPN, the Las Vegas Raiders have glaring holes on their roster. In Monday’s release of their NFL roster rankings, the media conglomerate took aim at the team’s inexperience and lack of high-end talent at the quarterback position. Mike Clay, a writer and analyst for ESPN, calls this offseason’s position battle between quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew the “most underwhelming.” Clay points towards Minshew’s middle-of-the-pack placement in QBR last year and O’Connell’s poor advance metrics as a cause for concern. Additionally, Clay says, “The Raiders will need O’Connell to make a big leap and become a gem Day 3 find.”
Per ESPN, the cornerback trio of Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett, and Nate Hobbs are among the X-factor players. Jones, a waiver claim from New England last season, posted above-average metrics in NFL Next Gen Stats’ metric that quantifies yards per coverage snap allowed. However, Bennett and Hobbs (in a small sample size) struggled in that department. A leap in production from the backend would further complement an already elite defensive line in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby: Earns High Praise
The Las Vegas Raiders will enter next season with a bonafide star on the end of their defensive line. According to ESPN, Las Vegas’ strength in the D-line is led by second-team All-Pro pass rusher Maxx Crosby. The Eastern Michigan product led the league in TFLs last season while ranking in the top five in sacks and tackles by an edge rusher since 2022. The Raiders also added star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency after he posted a nine-sack campaign last year. Alongside Crosby and Wilkins, the Raiders will deploy former first-round pick Tyree Wilson and edge rusher Malcolm Koonce (eight sacks in 2023).
The Raiders will also turn to Janarius Robinson and Elerson Smith as depth pieces behind Crosby and Koonce. Robinson, a fourth-round pick in 2021 by the Minnesota Vikings, missed his first two seasons with injury but registered eight tackles and one sack in six games last year. Meanwhile, Smith spent last season on the Raiders’ practice squad. He accumulated 11 tackles with the New York Giants from 2021 to 2022.
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