As the 2020 NFL season draws closer, there is more and more uncertainty about how things will be played. With training camp right around the corner, the league and players still haven't released exactly what procedures need to be in place. Despite that, the Las Vegas Raiders have to prepare for the start of a new era for their franchise.
Jon Gruden and company feel very good about their roster following a solid offseason. Among the notable additions to the team are Henry Ruggs III, Cory Littleton, Jason Witten, Damarious Randall, Nelson Agholor, and Damon Arnette.
It has been a long time since the Raiders were an intriguing team to keep an eye on. They have been stuck in mediocrity for years. With Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock now running things, they are building the right way and have added quite a few pieces that could help them compete for a Wild Card spot in 2020.
Granted, there is no guarantee that all of their moves will pay off. There is also a lot of pressure on young players to step up and perform at a very high level. However, there are quite a few reasons for optimism in Las Vegas.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at three bold predictions for the Raiders' offense for the upcoming season.
3. Josh Jacobs Ends Up Being A Top-Three Rusher
One of the best moves the Raiders' franchise has made in recent years was the decision to take Alabama running back Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Jacobs showed true superstar potential.
Jacobs ended up carrying the football 242 times for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers average out to an impressive 4.8 yards per carry. He also caught 20 passes for 166 yards on the season.
Putting up those numbers as a rookie was impressive, to say the least. Add in the fact that he played in 13 games and the numbers look even better. Jacobs will end the 2020 season as a top-three rusher throughout the entire NFL.
2. Henry Ruggs III Wins Offensive Rookie of the Year
Another young talent that the Raiders are extremely excited about is their first first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft. With the No. 12 overall selection, Las Vegas happily drafted Alabama star wideout Henry Ruggs III.
Ruggs is the definition of pure speed and playmaking. Las Vegas has been needing more playmaking offensively and that is exactly what they are getting in Ruggs.
Gruden has always loved speed and the addition of Ruggs gives the Raiders a true No. 1 wideout. Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow are good pieces, but they aren't top wide receivers. Ruggs will come in and put up huge numbers as a rookie, which will translate into him winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award when everything is said and done.
1. Derek Carr Bounces Back As A Fringe MVP Candidate
This is obviously the boldest prediction that could be made for the Raiders' offense this season. Over the last couple of years, there have been rumors that the Raiders could look to move on from Carr. Just a few years back, however, Carr was one of the top up-and-coming quarterbacks in the entire league.
Last season, Carr completed a sizzling 70.4 percent of his pass attempts for 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Add in the talent that the Raiders added offensively and those numbers have a chance to increase in a big way.
We aren't predicting that Carr will be a serious MVP candidate, but he will be on the fringe. He will prove that he should still be the long-term franchise quarterback for the Raiders. This is exactly what the franchise needs to take the next step.
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