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NFL Team Reviews: Las Vegas Raiders

· Jun 10 - 3 minutes read

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2022 offseason was busy as they hired a new head coach and began to acquire stars to capitalize on last year’s playoff run. The Raiders have officially gone all in and have made the moves to succeed.

Improvements: Star power

The Las Vegas Raiders have had an impressive offseason, filling many of the team’s roster’s holes. However, they focused on adding in stars, trading for wide receiver Davante Adams and signing defensive end Chandler Jones. Both are elite players in the NFL and have game-changing qualities that the Raiders will need in a tough division.

Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders prepares to take the field before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers — Chris Unger/Getty Images/AFP

Back together 🥲@derekcarrqb x @tae15adams pic.twitter.com/bOuUUWcnRN

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) June 6, 2022

- Davante Adams Profile
- Chandler Jones Profile

Adams has been an All-Pro receiver playing with the Green Bay Packers in the last two years, totaling 2,927 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. His connection with Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers was special, but his connection with Derek Carr might be just as strong playing in college together.

In 2019 Jones came in second in Defensive Player of the year, with 19 sacks. In 2020 he only played in five games, but in 2021 Jones was back to his dominating, ending with 10.5 with his fourth Pro-Bowl appearance.

- Aaron Rodgers Profile
- Derek Carr Profile

Stayed the same: Quarterback

Carr will be entering his eighth season as a starter for the Raiders at age 31. He signed a three-year extension to take him to 2025 as the Raiders starting quarterback in the offseason, after one of Carr’s best seasons of his career, throwing for 4,804 and 23 touchdowns.

The addition of Adams and new head coach Josh McDaniels, former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, could see a rise in Carr’s stats. However, Carr is the worst quarterback in the AFC West with no disrespect. He will need to put up another fantastic season to make another playoff run.

Got worse: Youth

The Las Vegas Raiders have seemed to move into a win-now window in the first season under McDaniels. In the 2022 Draft, they did not have a pick until the third round, which could haunt them down the line as the team gets older. However, this plan worked out for the defending Super Bowl Champions Los Angeles Rams. Still, the Raiders find themselves in one of the best divisions in the NFL, which could make cashing in on this all-or-nothing mentality very difficult.

Grade: A

The Raiders pushed all the right buttons this offseason. The issue is that every team, except for the Kansas City Chiefs, pushed all the right buttons. Every team got significantly better, which despite an amazing offseason, could see the Raiders not making the playoffs.