NFL Offseason Previews: Las Vegas Raiders

The NFL offseason is upon us, and teams will begin working to craft their 2023 rosters in the coming months. In this series of offseason previews, we will look at what each team has to work with and their biggest needs. Today we continue with the Las Vegas Raiders offseason preview.

As a reminder, here are dates to keep in mind for the 2023 NFL offseason:

  • March 7: deadline for teams to use the franchise tag
  • March 13: legal tampering period opens
  • March 15: NFL free agency begins and the new league year starts
  • April 21: deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
  • April 27-29: NFL draft
  • May 1: deadline for teams to exercise 5th-year options on 2020 first-round draft picks
  • July 15: deadline for franchise tag players to sign an extension
  • You can find previous team’s offseason previews here: Bears | Bengals | Browns | Lions | Packers | Steelers | Vikings | Ravens | 49ers | Broncos | Rams | Chargers |

    2022 Summary

    Not much went right for the Raiders in 2022. Vegas traded for and extended All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams last year, hoping to give Derek Carr the weapon he was missing.

    The acquisition made the Raiders seem like they could compete for a playoff berth. But that wasn’t the case, even with Josh Jacobs leading the NFL in rushing. Derek Carr threw for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Jacobs led the league in rushing. Davante Adams caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns.

    All in all, the offense wasn’t bad. The Raiders were 12th in scoring (23.2 points per game), but the defense was atrocious.

    Vegas ranked 26th in the league in scoring defense (24.6 points per game). The Raiders passing defense was 29th (by yardage), and the rushing defense was 19th.

    Key Positional Needs

    Here’s where the Raiders need to find help this offseason:

  • QB
  • RB
  • DE
  • CB
  • S
  • DT
  • Key Free Agents

    Here’s a look at the Raiders upcoming key free agents:

  • Josh Jacobs (RB)
  • Jarrett Stidham (QB)
  • Rock Ya-Sin (CB)
  • Sidney Jones (CB)
  • Anthony Averett (CB)
  • Jerry Tillery (DT)
  • Tashawn Bower (DE)
  • Clelin Ferrell (DE)
  • Salary Cap & Draft Capital

    Here’s a look at the salary cap room and draft capital that the Raiders have to work with this offseason:

  • Current draft picks: 7 (1), 38 (2), 70 (3), 109 (4), 143 (5), 146 (5), 174 (5), 204 (6), 214 (6), 222 (7), 233 (7)
  • Cap space: $48.4
  • Offseason Outlook

    Derek Carr is gone, and the Raiders will start their offseason searching for an answer under center. Will it be Jarrett Stidham (who is a free agent), a quarterback in the draft, or a veteran quarterback via trade or free agency?

    There’s been plenty of Aaron Rodgers chatter since the season ended. Vegas (along with the Jets) has been one of the main places mentioned regarding landing spots for Rodgers. Still, gambling on Rodgers is risky.

    To acquire him, Vegas would have to give up several draft picks. Then they have to ask themselves, how long is he here for? A year, maybe two, before he retires. Josh Jacobs is still a pending free agent that they have to pay or replace. After they remedy those two positions, using a large chunk of their cash and pick capital, the defense still stinks to the heavens.

    The Raiders are in a spot here to extend their homegrown running back, re-sign Jarrett Stidham, a guy they like, and pair him with a veteran free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo, whom Josh McDaniels has plenty of familiarity with. Then use the remaining cash and draft capital to address a very bad defense.

    Viola, the Raiders are improved from 2022 and haven’t mortgaged their future on a haphazard Super Bowl run that would start with them being maybe the second or third-best team in their division.


    If you’re looking for more offseason reading, Sam Hoppen at 4for4 (our sister company) is previewing each division:

    written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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