Become a Vegas Insider
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Intro: Joining Raider Nation in Vegas: Lifetime Memberships Now Available
Part 1: The Raider Nation – The Fans, The Black Hole, The Ownership, & Raiders Identity
Part 2: The Raiders History – The Players, Celebrities, & Cultural Impact of The Raiders
Part 3: The Raiders Today – The Team, Players, Front Office, Social Media, & Move to Vegas
Part 4: Becoming Part of Raider Nation: What You Need to Know
The 2019 Raiders are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, with an 7-9 record that saw a slim chance at a playoff birth on the line in week 17. Before 2019, the Raiders went to the playoffs in 2016 with a 12-4 record before losing in the playoffs during the wild card round after losing QB Derek Carr to a leg injury on Christmas Eve.
The last 18 years have been painful for the once winningest team in NFL history, finishing in the bottom half of the division 16 times in the last 18 years. It is important to understand the recent struggles in understanding where the Raiders are today and how that corresponds with the move to Vegas.
In 2018, the Raiders made a commitment to excellence, when they re-hired Jon Gruden to lead the franchise for the next decade. In 2019, the Raiders hired NFL Network broadcaster Mike Mayock as a first-time GM to help Gruden restore the Raiders to glory.
The pairing of Gruden and Mayock took the off season by storm, making a big splash by trading for Antonio Brown and having one of the best drafts in NFL history, using draft capital from trades with the Dallas Cowboys for star Amari Cooper and the Bears for superstar Khalil Mack to reshape the roster with young, controllable talent.
VEGAS INSPIRED COLLECTIONS
The Raiders used their three first round picks on Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs (a ROY front-runner), and Josh Abrams. He also plucked Trayvon Mullen, Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renslow from the middle of the draft, while picking up fullback Alec Ingold as a rookie free agent, each starting and having success in their early career.
The youth movement for the Raiders has brought excitement, but also much better results on the field. Through the first 10 games, they were in the heart of the playoff and division race, before fading towards an 8-8 record, missing out on a wildcard birth by just one game.
With multiple mid-first round picks in the upcoming draft and cap room to make a big move, the Raiders move to Vegas in a position to be a perennial contender if they have another great off-season.
That said, the elephant in the room and the topic of nearly every Twitter conversation within Raider Nation is about Derek Carr. His 6-year career has been the best for a Raider quarterback since Rich Gannon and had an MVP-like season in 2016. But after recovering from the injury that ended that season before the playoffs, the results have not been the same.
SAVE BIG IN VEGAS
Raider Nation is split on the issue and the solution. The calls to move on from Carr are loud and ferocious. They see a quarterback who is a game manager, checks down too often, and doesn’t have the elite skills of quarterbacks that are leading a revolution of the position.
On the other side, fans of Carr see a quarterback who values the ball, completes a high percentage of passes, and has enough athletic ability to move around in the pocket and use his feet to move the chains in a pinch. His 101 qb rating in 2019 is the 4th best in the AFC and he typically makes enough plays to win the game without making the costly mistakes.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Carr is a winning quarterback that can thrive in the Raiders offense that should revolve around rookie sensation Josh Jacobs and running the football. Unless the Raiders use a considerable amount of draft capital to upgrade the position, Carr is likely the best candidate to start the season in Vegas and the best realistic option available for 2020.
The Raiders front office understood that the WR needed a huge upgrade, as shown by aggressively acquiring Antonio Brown, who would have made a huge difference on the field if he wasn’t a nut off it. If they stay aggressive and go out and get a top wide receiver talent and upgrade the other skilled positions on the fringe, I think this is an playoff offense.
The defense had some break out stars, but was lacking the talent and depth to compete with the top-end teams in the NFL. But the Raiders do have the draft capital and nearly $70M of cap space to fix the problems.
All in all, the future looks as bright as the neon lights on the strip and with another strong off-season, the Raiders have a chance to compete for a playoff birth in Vegas in 2020. They would need an outstanding off-season, growth by their young stars, and better health in 2020 to compete for the division and Super Bowl, but they are a team on the rise.
Players You Should Know
The Raiders offense has the pieces to have a very successful 2020 campaign, but lacks enough play-makers at wide receiver. But a young core of studs at RB, TE, and a vastly improved offensive line give the Raiders a chance to have a top offense for the move to Vegas.
Here’s the offensive players you should know.
- #4 – Derek Carr, QB – Is he the qb of the future? That will be decided, but at a manageable $21M cap number in 2020, he’s likely the face of the franchise for at least one more year. Buy #4 Carr Jersey.
- #28 – Josh Jacobs, RB – One of the young stars of the NFL, he should be the offensive rookie of the year. His 1,000 yard season was had even after missing a few games with injury. He has the skills and power to get 5+ yards on first down and the elusiveness and speed to take it to the house on every touch. Jacobs looks like a star in the making and should get even better with more explosive talent in the passing game. Buy #28 Jacobs Jersey
- #83 – Darren Waller, TE – The breakout star for the Raiders and a candidate for most improved player in the NFL. Waller became the most consistent pass catcher for the Raiders in 2019 and looks to continue growing as more playmakers are added to the WR room. Buy #83 Waller Jersey
- #64 – Richie Incognito, G – One of the most colorful players in the NFL, Incognito found a home in 2019 in Silver and Black and signed a two extension to help solidify an offensive line that played well in 2019. He has a checked past, but when he’s staying out of trouble, he embodies the spirit of the Raiders. Buy #64 Incognito Jersey
- #77 – Trent Brown, T: After AB went AWOL, Trent Brown was the crown jewel of the 2019 free agent class for the Raiders. In his first year protecting Carr and opening holes for the running backs, Brown made the pro-bowl and figures to be a cornerstone of the OL in Vegas.
- #45 – Alec Ingold, FB: Another rookie runner, Alec spent the majority of his year opening holes and helping Josh Jacobs dominate in year one. Fullbacks are the kind of unheralded guys that Raider Nation likes to get behind and Ingold showed in year one he is one of the best fullbacks in football.
- #13 – Hunter Renfrow, WR: Another rookie crowd favorite, this college star at Clemson showed that winning football plays seem to follow him around. He figures to be an important pass catcher in the Raiders offense and could be one of the few WR to stay relevant in the move to Vegas. Buy #13 Renfrow Jersey
Defensive Players You Should Know
- #98 – Maxx Crosby, DE: Madd Maxx is getting consideration for Defensive ROY after he busted on the scene with a 10 sack, 46 tackle, and 4 forced fumble rookie campaign. He was the unheralded rookie, drafted in the 4th round, but proved the Raiders faith in him was warranted. He looks to continue to get better with more playing time and could become the face of a re-tooled defense next year. Buy #98 Crosby Jersey
- #96 – Clelin Ferrell, DE: The controversial first pick (#4 overall) with Josh Allen still on the board, Clelin Ferrell had a solid season that got better as he got comfortable. He is a proven winner (2 time CFP National Champion) and leader. He ended his rookie campaign with 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery in 15 games. Ferrell showed flashes of dominance towards the end of the year, with 3.5 of his sacks after week 9. There are high expectations for the top 5 pick and his second season looks to be much more consistent than his first, but the talent is there. Buy #96 Ferrell Jersey
- #24 – Johnathan Abram, S: Another first round pick in 2019, he looked the part in pre-season work and in his only game action in week 1. A shoulder injury against the Broncos in the opening game sidelined him for the rest of the year. He has huge upside and should be a starter and cornerstone of the defense in Vegas next year, assuming he gets and stays healthy. Buy #24 Abrams Jersey
- #27 – Trayvon Mullen, CB: Early in the second round of the draft, the Raiders took Trayvon Mullen. He was eased into the position behind older players, but as he showed more in practice, the Raiders sent Gareon Conley to the Texans and opened up a shot for Mullens to play. He delivered a solid, if not spectacular second half of the year and solidified himself as a starter with pro-bowl upside moving forward.
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