Raiders heading into training camp: What to be positive about

Maxx Crosby

It’s now July and the Las Vegas Raiders start training camp in three weeks.

The team is trying to improve from a 8-9 2023 season (in which they won three of their final four games to cement Antonio Pierce’s future as their head coach) and they made some key additions this offseason.

Let’s look at some reasons for positivity as the season approached:

Coach-player vibes:

Spirits have been high around this team the since Halloween night when Pierce took over for the dismissed Josh McDaniels. The feeling was different as soon as Pierce took over and players famously pushed for him to get the job in the offseason. The entire offseason program was marked by coaches and players alike saying how happy they are. Pierce believes in his team and it has belief in him. They think they can beat the world together.

Two defensive line stars:

The Raiders made one of the biggest veteran acquisitions of the entire NFL offseason by signing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. He is an upper-level player who is elite against the run and has made major strides as a pass-rusher. He is a great gift for Las Vegas superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby. It’s scary to think how good Crosby will be with Wilkins on the same line. Truly, this is a team-changing move that should have a positive affect on the team every game.

Defense in general:

The presence of Crosby and Wilkins isn’t the only reason for excitement about this defense. It played very strong under Pierce last season and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has command of his unit. There are several young players such as pass-rusher Malcolm Koonce, cornerback Jack Jones, linebacker Robert Spillane and safeties Marcus Epps and Tre’von Moehrig who can make this unit a top-level unit. Everyone raved about this group in the offseason. If the Raiders can stay healthy, this unit could be a big difference maker.

Offensive weapons:

Yes, the Raiders are unsettled at quarterback as incumbent Aidan O’Connell and free-agent addition Gardner Minshew will battle it out in training camp and in the preseason. While there is some concern at the position, the Raiders have done their best to give those quarterbacks a lot to work with. Davante Adams, of course, is a top-level wide receiver and fellow starter Jakobi Meyers gives them a strong tandem. The team has been raving about the development of speedy second-year receiver Tre Tucker. Plus they can have a special pair of tight ends in rookie Brock Bowers and second-year player Michael Mayer. And then there’s running back Zamir White, who looked good in the final four games as an injury replacement for former starter Josh Jacobs. This cupboard is full of talent here.

The rookies:

We all know the Raiders have had trouble developing young players (particularly early-draft picks), but they have been showing some improvement and there is excitement about the draft class drafted by new Las Vegas general manager Tom Telesco. Bowers, the No. 13 overall pick, and second-round pick, guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, are expected to have big roles early. Other draft picks, including cornerbacks Decamerion Richardson and M.J. Devonshire, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and running back Dylan Laube, all could carve out early roles as well.