Raiders news – Syndication Server

Could better supporting cast help Raiders DE Maxx Crosby win DPOY award?

Maxx Crosby has been one of the league’s best defenders for several seasons now. He is a one-man wrecking crew who has improved each season in the NFL. But despite his gaudy numbers and relentless effort, he has yet to take home the most prestigious …

In a recent article by Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, he made the case that a better supporting cast around Crosby could help him win the Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2024 season. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on why this could finally be the year for Crosby:

Considering Crosby led the league in tackles for loss in back-to-back seasons while besting quarterbacks like a knockout artist in the ring (67 quarterback hits since 2022), the sixth-year pro has been in the conversation for the league’s most prestigious defensive award the last two campaigns, finishing fourth in voting in 2023 and sixth the year prior.

His most recent top-five finish is a remarkable feat for a player who has been a one-man show on the edges without consistent help around him.

Things should change in 2024 with Christian Wilkins, a breakout star last year for Miami, Malcolm Koonce (eight sacks in 2023), and Tyree Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick from the 2023 draft, joining him on the defensive front. The quartet’s individual and collective size, speed and disruption should create more one-on-one opportunities for Crosby on the outside.

The Raiders have more talent around Crosby than ever before and if Tyree Wilson can take a step in Year 2, this has a chance to be one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. But for Crosby to win this award, the Raiders are going to need to dominate on defense. Their defense will need to be the reason why they win 9+ games and a playoff berth certainly wouldn’t hurt his chances.

That is on the table this year with the Raiders having more talent than ever on that side of the ball. As long as Crosby can stay healthy, he should be in the conversation yet again for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

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Raiders TE Brock Bowers makes big impression during offseason workouts

One of the most surprising picks in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft was the selection of Brock Bowers by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders didn’t have a need at tight end, but he was so clearly the best player available that they had to select him.

And so far, so good for Bowers and the Raiders. In a recent article by ESPN, they wrote about every first-round pick and how they have performed in the offseason program. Here is what the site had to say about Bowers’ performance during OTAs and minicamp:

Bowers glides when he runs, his stride resembling that of a free-flowing wideout more than a stereotypical lumbering tight end. And when not hauling in passes in practice, he has caught the attention of three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who is so impressed with Bowers’ no-nonsense attitude off the field he gave him a nickname.

Adams gave Bowers the nickname “BM,” which stands for “Business Man.” While it’s not a great nickname for various reasons, it does show how quickly Bowers has won over his teammates. And once the pads come on, Bowers should look even more impressive.

If there were any concerns about his game transferring over to the NFL level, that stopped in OTAs. He already looks like one of the best athletes on the field and is poised for a monster rookie season.

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Albert Breer believes Raiders could sell big-name veterans during NFL season

The Raiders believe they can compete for a playoff spot this season. They weren’t that far away last year and they’ve added some high-end talent this offseason.

But if things don’t go well early in the season, could the Raiders trade one of their top players for draft picks?

In a recent article by Albert Breer of SI, he wrote about the possibility of the Raiders trading a star player before the NFL trade deadline this year. And his response may shock you:

I also believe that the roster is a ways off, and the long-term quarterback for Pierce and first-year GM Tom Telesco isn’t on the roster, so there’s a pretty logical scenario out there where they become sellers at the deadline.

They would, at the very least, get calls on (Maxx) Crosby. Which doesn’t mean they would trade him—he’s still just 26, so it’d be different than dealing (Davante) Adams or even (Kolton) Miller—but they would get to see his value to other teams.

It seems highly unlikely that the Raiders would move Crosby anytime soon. The same goes for Kolton Miller as both players are in the primes of their career. Davante Adams would make more sense if the Raiders do struggle out of the gate, but even that seems unlikely.

The Raiders are in the process of retooling their roster but don’t expect Tom Telesco to start selling off pieces anytime soon.

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Are the Raiders a lock to go over 6.5 wins this season?

The Raiders have undoubtedly improved their roster this offseason. However, not many actually believe that they will be contenders in 2024. So can the Raiders actually outperform expectations this season?

In a recent piece by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, he looked at every team’s projected win total ahead of the 2024 season. The Raiders have a projected win total of 6.5, which is among the lowest in the AFC. But Tafur believes the Raiders are a lock to win at least seven games this season:

Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are really that bad? The Raiders won eight games last season despite some terrible coaching from Josh McDaniels and awful quarterback play from Jimmy Garoppolo over the first eight weeks.

The players love new coach Antonio Pierce — owner Mark Davis didn’t even consider Jim Harbaugh — and then gave defensive tackle Christian Wilkins a Brink’s truck so teams can’t double- and triple-team Maxx Crosby.

And receiver Davante Adams, still one of the best two or three receivers in the game, will open things up for rookie turbo-booster Brock Bowers. And vice versa. But they’re only going win six games because of one of the least exciting quarterback competitions ever? Nah.

The quarterback situation will likely decide how many wins the Raiders have during the 2024 season. But the defense should be able to keep them in most games this year. If Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew can step up and play at a decent level, there is no telling what the ceiling might be for Las Vegas this year.

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11 projected starters for Raiders are still on rookie contract

It’s no secret that the Raiders are one of the youngest teams in the NFL going into the 2024 season. But did you know that 50 percent of the players in their starting lineup are still on their rookie contract?

In a recent article by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, he pointed out this fact and listed all of the young players who are set to open the year as a starter. And in fact, that list could grow even more if some young players, such as Aidan O’Connell, win their positional battles:

The Raiders have 11 projected starters who are still on their rookie contracts (running back Zamir White, slot receiver Tre Tucker, tight end Brock Bowers, Powers-Johnson, Parham, Munford, defensive end Malcolm Koonce, linebacker Divine Deablo, cornerback Jack Jones, nickelback Nate Hobbs and safety Tre’von Moehrig).

If O’Connell and Bennett win their respective position battles, they’ll join that list. Additionally, the coaching staff expects significant contributions from other rookie-scale backups such as tight end Michael Mayer and defensive end Tyree Wilson.

The Raiders are a very young team (outside of a couple of spots) and the hope is that their youth can carry them this season. If a few of their young players can outperform their expectations, the Raiders could be much better than anyone anticipates.

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Raiders believe RT Thayer Munford Jr. is a better fit at left tackle

The Raiders are in the process of making several changes on the offensive line this offseason. While that unit wasn’t bad last season, Antonio Pierce wanted to upgrade the group and that’s why we’ve seen so many changes.

One of those changes involves Thayer Munford, who is expected to be the full-time starter at right tackle. Munford has played both left and right tackle in Las Vegas, but the expectation going forward is that he’ll stay on the right side.

In a recent article by our own Levi Damien he wrote about Munford and James Cragg’s (offensive line coach) thoughts on the third-year player from Ohio State. Here is a snippet of what he had to say about Munford and his fit at right tackle:

Especially watching the latter part of last year, he jumped out at me a lot. He’s been a good fit over there with his athleticism. He’s untapped. He’s still learning. He’s a raw football player. He’s still developing, in my opinion. He’s getting better every practice. He’s natural on the left. … But he can go both directions. You saw it last year: He could go step in for Kolton when he needed to. He’s been a pleasant surprise over there at right.

While it’s clear that Cragg believes that Munford is a better fit at left tackle, all of the reports from the offseason have been positive in regard to his play at right tackle. Munford has been a good player whenever he’s been on the field, but the expectations will be different now that he’s a starter.

Can Munford make the full-time transition to right tackle? That remains to be seen, but the Raiders are high on him and believe that he could play either spot on a moment’s notice. That is pretty hard to find in the NFL.

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Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell gets majority of first-team reps on Wednesday

Just one day after Gardner Minshew took most of the first-team reps, the Raiders turned to Aidan O’Connell on Wednesday. The Raiders want to give both of their quarterbacks an equal opportunity to win the job and this week’s minicamp is a step towards figuring out who will be their Week 1 starter.

That news was first reported by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, but it’s worth mentioning that neither quarterback impressed much this week. Here is a snippet of what he had to say about their performance from this week:

In what has been a trend throughout OTAs, though, neither O’Connell nor Minshew stood out on the field. They’ve struggled to push the ball downfield, have had too many off-target throws and don’t look to have their timing down. It’s still early, but both quarterbacks have a long way to go.

Both quarterbacks are learning a new offense and are getting adjusted to new receivers, so it’s not a surprise to see some summer struggles. However, the fact that neither has stood out doesn’t inspire confidence that the quarterback issue will be solved this year.

There is still plenty of time before Week 1 gets here, but the early reports on Minshew and O’Connell haven’t been great.

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Raiders RB Dylan Laube flashes during Day 1 of minicamp

The Raiders are fired up about Zamir White being their lead back this year. He’s got the size, speed, and power to be an every-down back at the NFL. However, the Raiders would like to add a back that could help out on passing downs.

The good news is that the Raiders already have a few backs on their roster that can contribute in the passing game. That includes a rookie runner who caught 117 passes over the last two seasons in college.

In a recent article by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, he noted that rookie running back Dylan Laube turned some heads during the first day of minicamp practice. Here is what he had to say about the former New Hampshire running back:

Rookie running back Dylan Laube had a good first day and was even on the field for some first-team passing downs. His wiggle and pass-catching skills were on display as he tries to carve out a role behind starter Zamir White and alongside backups Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah.

Laube isn’t a punishing inside runner, but his ability to win in the passing game could allow him to have a role as a rookie. And after just one practice, it appears he is well on his way to making the 53-man roster.

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Raiders OL Dylan Parham making the move to right guard

The Las Vegas Raiders are still tinkering with their offensive line as they try to find their best five players. One of those five players is certainly Dylan Parham, who has been the team’s starting left guard over the past two seasons.

However, it appears the Raiders are seriously considering moving Parham to the right side to replace Greg Van Roten. In a recent article by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Parham has been practicing at right guard for the majority of the offseason:

It looks like guard Dylan Parham’s move to the right side is happening, partially to help out young right tackle Thayer Munford. With rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson slowly working his way back from an undisclosed injury, veteran Cody Whitehair took first-team reps at left guard.

It’s clear that the Raiders are interested in keeping Jackson Powers-Johnson on the left side, which means that Parham has to move. The only question is whether Parham has enough size and power to hold down the starting right guard spot. But that will be answered sometime during training camp.

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Raiders QB Gardner Minshew earns ‘majority’ of first-team reps during minicamp

The Las Vegas Raiders kicked off manadtory minicamp this week as we inch closer to the 2024 season. While there was no contact and most of the drills were down at half speed, there were some interesting notes coming out of pracice.

In a recent article by Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, he wrote about the biggest takeaways from the minicamp practices for the Raiders. One of the most important notes was that Gardner Minshew was the QB running with the first-team offense. Here is what Gutierrez had to say about the quarterback competition in Las Vegas:

While free agent veteran Gardner Minshew got the majority of the first-team reps in his quarterback competition with second-year returner Aidan O’Connell on Tuesday, neither QB distinguished himself particularly well in practice. There were numerous off-target throws and several miscommunications with wideouts, when the two weren’t being harassed by the defensive line.

It’s discouraging to read that both Minshew and O’Connell struggled in camp, but it’s only June and both quarterbacks are learning a new offense with Luke Getsy in charge. But as we inch closer to training camp, it appears that Minshew is the favorite to win the QB1 job.

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