No team underwent more changes than the Oakland Las Vegas Raiders this past season. While they signed numerous free agents, the biggest change was leaving The Town for the Vegas Strip. Although many fans resent the team for leaving California, the new stadium is NUTS.
2019 Record: 7-9
Returning Starters
Offense: 9
Defense: 3
Las Vegas Raiders Key Additions
Free Agency
Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski
The first big signings of the offseason focused on the LB corps. Littleton comes by way of LA on a 3 year, $36 million deal. Kwiatkoski inked a 3 year $21 million deal. They are both expected to start and turn around a former lackluster position group for the new look Vegas team.
Carl Nassib
This one is a bit of a head scratcher. Although Nassib has collected 12.5 sacks in the past two season, the Raiders have solid pass rushers in Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell aka Salt and Pepper. Especially at 3 years $25 million, the money could have been better spent somewhere else.
Maliek Collins
One of my favorite moves made by the Raiders this past offseason. He is awfully young at just 24 years old and I believe his disgustingly underrated. His 48 pressures of the QB would have been tops on the Raiders and at $6 million for one year, they have found a bargain.
Marcus Mariota
There are too many moves to cover from the Raiders in the spring, so I’ll end with this one. The former Titans signal caller signed a 2 year $17.6 million deal, which is quite a bit for a backup QB. I am a big time Derek Carr believer, but if they have the cap space, it is good to be prepared.
Draft
Henry Ruggs III
The first WR taken in a loaded class and for good reason. He has burners with an above average route tree that Jon Gruden must have been salivating over. With Tyrell Williams going down with an injury, his role suddenly expands to a potential WR1 spot.
Damon Arnette
This selection in the first round was a head scratcher for sure. He was a key player on a team that made it all the way to the CFP, but it was his teammate Jeff Okudah that got most of the love. The Raiders love to go after prospects from top colleges and it has worked out for them on a regular basis.
Lynn Bowden Jr.
The former QB/RB/WR out of Kentucky looks to slot in at RB for the Raiders in this upcoming season. Gruden is a creative play caller and will take full advantage of Bowden’s diverse skill set.
Las Vegas Raiders Season Outlook
Jon Gruden comes into his 13th season as an NFL coach. He sports a 106-102 record with five playoff appearances and a Super Bowl win.
Derek Carr is coming off of one of his most efficient seasons at the QB position. He tossed 21 TDs to only eight picks and posted career highs in CMP% (70.4%) and yards (4,054). One of their first round selections from 2019 will be back to take handoffs from Carr. Josh Jacobs averaged nearly 5 yards per carry en route to 1,150 yards and 7 TDs.
The receiver corps looks to improve off of an impressive year. It all starts with Darren Waller. One of the stars of Hard Knocks last summer took a huge leap, catching 90 passes for 1,145 yards but only 3 TDs. In addition, Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow hauled in over 40 passes and 600 yards. The addition of Henry Ruggs will only add to the strong bunch in Vegas.
On the other side of the ball, the team is buoyed by second year stars Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell. Crosby, a fourth round pick in the 2019 draft, collected 10 sacks, 19 TFLs and forced four fumbles in an impressive rookie showing. Ferrell, the Raiders top pick in the same draft, put together yet another solid campaign. He had 4.5 sacks to pair with 10 TFLs and 5 PDs. The rest of the defense will look awfully different, as Jonathan Abram is returning from a season ending injury last year. The free agency additions listed above will likely have a hug impact on this defense that ranked 24th in points allowed and 19th in yards allowed.
Win Total: 7 1/2
I love the talent on this team, but unfortunately they play in one of the toughest divisions in football. Vegas currently has them at 12-1 odds to win the AFC West and 24-1 to win the AFC. I believe they will ultimately go as far as Derek Carr takes them, which will be just enough to keep them at .500. OVER
Fantasy Player to Watch: Hunter Renfrow
Draft Josh Jacobs in the first round. That should be a given. But he is not the guy I want to focus on in this section. Hunter Renfrow was the key piece to a CFP Championship at Clemson, including the game winning catch from Deshaun Watson. Many believed he was merely a good story, but the dude can BALL. If his final two games should be any indication, he is preparing for a big season. He recorded at least 6 receptions, 100 yards, and a TD in Weeks 16 + 17. His 600 yards on the season came in only 13 games as well. In any sort of PPR league he is a go-to rotational player in the later rounds. He had 7 games of 4+ catches and with a defined role as the go-to slot receiver he is a great spot start in a pinch for almost any fantasy team.
Read more NFL previews here
Listen to my podcast here