The Las Vegas Raiders are in a transition period. They sit in the middle of contending for a Wild Card spot and “tanking” for a top pick in the draft. Their best player, star running back Josh Jacobs, left the team in the offseason. What they will do in the 2024 season is anyone's guess at this point.
At the very least, the team found a solid replacement for Josh Jacobs in ex-Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. Mattison was asked about his decision to join the Raiders. The running back then talked about the “undeniable” reason why he joined the team, per SiriusXM Radio.
“This (Raiders) was the best opportunity,” Mattison said when he recently joined SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I love what they have going on here. There's a lot of good different ties within the coaching realm, understanding who's on the coaching staff, relationships there. Just knowing the feel is one of the biggest things. When I came on the visit here, it was something that was pretty undeniable, that energy was captivating.”
As the lead running back for the Vikings last season, Mattison rushed for 700 yards with 3.9 YPC. Those aren't stellar numbers, admittedly. Mattison will be jockeying for position with Zamir White for the Raiders' starting RB job. At the very least, the ex-Vikings RB has proven that he can fill in any role when needed.
The Raiders' offense is in an interesting spot. They do have one of the best (if not the best) wide receivers in the league in Davante Adams. They also drafted the best tight end in the 2024 class in Brock Bowers. However, they are a bit lacking at the QB position. Aidan O'Connell showed flashes last season, but he isn't the long-term solution.
Raiders' outlook for 2024 season
The Raiders' goal for next season isn't immediately clear at first glance. They aren't in a position to compete for the title. They're not even in position to fight for the division title: the Kansas City Chiefs remain in the AFC West. However, they are a little too good to give up and look for a top draft pick early into the season.
We already talked about Adams and Bowers on offense. On defense, they have one of the best pass-rushers in the league in Maxx Crosby. One could argue that the Raiders are a surprise breakout season away from breaking into the playoffs, but that isn't really a realistic option for them. At the very least, it will certainly be fascinating to watch this team and how they attack the upcoming season.
Their success will mostly rely on how O'Connell performs next season as the full-time starter. He has the tools to have a respectable season at the very least. How he performs as the maestro of the Raiders offense will dictate how far they'll go. If he can minimize his mistakes and maybe have a great game or two, they can fight for a Wild Card spot. If not… well, O'Connell will join the long list of transitional QBs for the Raiders.
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