The Las Vegas Raiders overcame mountains to reach the postseason in the 2021 season. They may have lost in the Wild Card round but were still, understandably, just happy to be there.
Now that the Raiders proved they can overcome the odds, they need to show they can remain one of the league's top teams. Their point differential of -65 from last season (which ranked in the bottom 10 of the NFL and was the worst among playoff teams) suggests that they aren't. A four-game winning streak to end their regular season just got them into the playoffs.
The Kansas City Chiefs own the AFC West but the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos are not too far behind the Raiders. They could find themselves in the most competitive division in the NFL next season. If they don't take care of business this. offseason, they could very well find themselves in the bottom of it.
There is a myriad of important moves for the Raiders to make this season. Three moves, in particular, will be extra important as they look to capitalize on their playoff appearance.
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3 moves the Raiders must make during the 2022 NFL offseason
3. Add another wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow stepped up tremendously to be the Raiders' WR1. No player that was targeted at least 100 times was as efficient as he was, rocking a catch percentage of 80.5 percent. He hauled in 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller are a great pass-catching duo but Las Vegas could still use another big-game wideout.
Las Vegas has the 22nd, 53rd and 86th pick in the 2022 draft. With Renfrow dominating in the slot, the Raiders should look for a strong option to play outside of him. If they want to take a swing with their first-round, they could nab Arkansas's Treylon Burks, USC's Drake London or Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson of Ohio State.
In free agency, Davante Adams and Chris Godwin are the main prizes but there are catches for both star wideouts. Adams will be heavily pursued and Godwin is coming off of an ACL tear. The draft seems like the best bet for new general manager Dave Ziegler to find another strong option for Derek Carr. Speaking of which…
2. Extend Derek Carr
After posting one of his bests seasons and leading the team through multiple scandals, Carr deserves an extension.
Looming extensions can be haunting to players who play big roles on their team. The feeling of uncertainty can be detrimental, especially to players who have given their all to teams for such a long time. Carr, who is approaching his ninth season in the black and silver, has provided solid play at the quarterback spot.
The Raiders are seemingly ready to get a deal done even though Carr is looking to be paid very handsomely. The negotiations will be tricky for Las Vegas, who will have to decide what Carr will be worth when he is 32 years old and up.
If the Raiders don't want to pay Carr significant long-term money, they have to immediately pivot. Signing Carr to an extension is the sensible move that the franchise owes him. But if negotiations stall, letting Carr play afterward may hurt the team. The Raiders' best options under center are Carr with a long-term contract or someone else.
1. Extend Maxx Crosby
Crosby's contract extension is the highest priority for the Raiders. The importance of having their top player locked up for the long run cannot be understated. The 24-year-old edge rusher, who has recorded at least seven sacks in his first three seasons, is the key to their future.
It may seem backward to prioritize a player other than the franchise quarterback. But because Crosby is just entering his prime and is more impactful for his position than Carr is for his respective position, his contract situation should carry more weight. Crosby will likely look to become the highest-paid player at his position and Las Vegas will likely have to acquiesce. The money would be well-spent, though.
With the Raiders' roster better suited for offense than defense and new head coach Josh McDaniels having more knowledge as an offensive guru, Crosby will have a lot of weight on his shoulders. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham didn't do much for the New York Giants last season but should be able to do more with the Raiders. Crosby's pass-rushing excellence is the top reason why.
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