2023 Las Vegas Raiders season: 8-9; missed postseason
Overview: The Raiders had a newfound sense of hope and confidence after a difficult start to the season. After a 3-5 start, Josh McDaniels was sacked as head coach, but things soon improved under Antonio Pierce’s temporary leadership.
Pierce was elevated from interim to full-time head coach after leading the squad to a 5-4 victory and winning the respect of important players in the locker room. The team also brought in Tom Telesco to assist with roster formation. A new quarterback to go along with the new regime is high on the list of goals, but only time will tell if this approach is effective and beneficial for the club.
Important free agents
RB Josh Jacobs, Bilal Nichols, and Chris Andre James Out of Time Eluemunor Jermaine
Who is present or absent? With a new front staff in place, this one is difficult to assess, but Josh Jacobs is someone they should figure out way to hold onto for a more season to give their offense some legitimacy in 2024. It would also aid their offensive transition the next season if they could keep one or both of their offensive lineman who are set to enter free agency.
Important requirements for free agents
Quarterback Defensive line Cornerback
What causes the holes? With Jimmy Garoppolo leaving town, Aidan O’Connell and Jimmy Garoppolo might face off at quarterback should the Raiders decide to add someone to the position. To ease the workload of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who oversaw an outstanding defense in the second part of the season, they also want more vigor at cornerback and defensive line.
Is the money with them? It is. According to Spotrac, the Raiders are expected to have $42.6 million in cap space at the beginning of the 2019 league season.
Possible significant reductions
QB James Garoppolo Wide Receiver Hunter Renfrow S Marcus Bepps
Reasons for their possible disappearance: After a disastrous year-long experiment in Las Vegas, Garoppolo is almost already out of the picture. He has also allegedly been suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season for breaking the NFL’s policy regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Hunter Renfrow makes sense as a cap casualty to save up a little over $8 million because he wasn’t used much the previous season. An extra $3.4 million would be saved if Epps was released.
Draft picks
1st round: No. 13
2nd round: No. 44 overall
3rd round: No. 77 overall
4th round
5th round
6th round (via Chiefs)
7th round (via Patriots)
7th round (via Titans)
7th round (via Vikings)
Good draft fit
Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
Why him? The Raiders picked Tyree Wilson in the first round last year, but they still need a real force to make life easier for Maxx Crosby, who has become their ironman on defense. Dallas Turner is a high-upside pass rusher that makes sense for the Raiders.
What has the potential to impact fantasy football this offseason?
On offense, the Raiders have a few talented players.Even now, Davante Adams is a proven star-caliber number one wide receiver. One of the most underappreciated flankers in the game, Jakobi Meyer is dependable throughout every stage of play.When Antonio Pierce took over as head coach, the run game performed well with both Josh Jacobs and Zamir White, while rookie tight end Michael Mayer showed promise. All of these components need to have a solid quarterback strategy in order to be a part of a competitive draft plan in 2024. My attention isn’t piqued by the prospect of a mid-level veteran facing Aiden O’Connell; it doesn’t seem like a significant enough improvement.
