After bouncing around the middle of the NFL pack for years, employing four different head coaches in the four seasons since the team moved from Oakland to Las Vegas, the Raiders finally appear to have found the man to lead them into the future in Antonio Pierce, the former Pro Bowl linebacker who galvanized the team to a 5-4 record down the stretch last season.
While the team's roster is still a work in progress, there are plenty of interesting young players who could establish themselves as long-term players for the Raiders right out of the gate, including a do-it-all offensive weapon, and a versatile linemen who could start as a rookie.
These rookies could be players for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.
2. Brock Bowers will push Mike Mayer… and Jakobi Meyers
When the Raiders decided to select Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, it effectively marked the end of Mike Mayer's spot as Las Vegas' starting tight end.
But what if Bowers is so much more?
Sure, Bowers is technically a tight end and is built to play the position even if he's a tad undersized compared to modern expectations, but after selecting him 13th overall, Raiders GM Tom Telesco noted that he drafted the Georgia receiver to be a playmaker, not just to run under routes and block as a move tight end.
“We're looking to add more playmakers to the offense, and they come in all shapes and sizes, in all different positions. And we love Michael Mayer — I love Michael Mayer — and he's a really good player. He's going to take another big jump this year. But you get a chance to add just another dimension to the offense, whether it's a tight end, hybrid receiver, whatever it is, you need more playmakers on that side of the ball, Tom Telesco told reporters via ESPN.
“So, I think [Bowers is] really going to help us there, and I feel like he was a high-level player in college. A true junior, he's 21 years old, so he's very young still, still developing. But he has some natural football skills, combined with some high-level athletic ability and speed
Will Bowers lead Las Vegas in receptions, catches, and yards at the tight end position? Yes, unless he's injured or something truly horrible happens, that feels like a borderline lock. But don't be surprised if, after looking impressive during training camp and the preseason, Bowers fights his way up the proverbial pecking order and challenges Jakobi Meyers, Michael Gallup, and company for the WR2 spot as a super-sized slot behind only Davante Adams.
1. Jackson Powers-Johnson will push Cody Whitehair at guard
Heading into the offseason, Las Vegas decided to address their guard situation by signing Cody Whitehair, a former Pro Bowler for the Chicago Bears who split his time between guard and center during his professional career.
Could the Raiders have been fine with Whitehair sliding into an open guard spot? Sure, while the Bears opted to release him from his big-money deal, Whitehair is still NFL player, even if he isn't a star but fortunately, that doesn't need to be the case any longer, as the team selected Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon at pick 44 and he should be able to start right out of the gate as a rookie.
Discussing his progress as a member of the Raiders thus far, offensive line coach James Bregg celebrated JPJ's progress, noting that he's come as advertised.
“He was making some progress early on. We had him at rookie minicamp, we grinding him out in there. We obviously have him at guard and he played center in college. He's actually a really good pass protector. I was really surprised with that. I'm upset at the fact that we couldn't really work with him. He's been hurt, he's been dealing with some kind of issue with his shoulder, but he's out there now,” James Cregg told reporters via Sports Illustrated.
“But I wish we could have spent more time with him, but we'll catch up during training camp. But he's a really, really bright kid, understands it, catches on quickly, knows when you ask him to do something he understands it, it's not going to confuse him at all. And we've just got to really get him in the process of doing our offense. Our offense takes a lot of reps to master as far as technique goes.”
On some teams, Powers-Johnson would have been a fantastic utility player off the bench, as he could theoretically back up all five offensive line spots, even tackle, but on the Raiders, he can start right away at right guard and as a result, he might just be one of the most important additions to the team in 2024 as a result.
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