2024 season: 4-13, fourth in AFC West, missed playoffs

Overview: It was a rough season for the Raiders, their first and only full one under head coach Antonio Pierce. While they won two of their last three games, the Raiders lost 10 straight at one point and missed the playoffs for a third straight campaign.

They struggled to find any consistency, especially at quarterback. They rotated between Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder due to injuries and overall poor play. The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after just nine games, too, along with two other position coaches in November.

To make matters worse, the Raiders started winning at the end of the season. While this may be a good sign for the franchise — gaining a bit of positive momentum into the offseason is rarely a bad thing — it moved the Raiders out of position to land what would be their first No. 1 overall draft pick since 2007. Considering the team’s needs (we’ll get to that later), that finish could make this offseason significantly more difficult in Las Vegas.

The team made a very solid hire in Pete Carroll to replace Pierce at head coach. If anybody is going to bring steady, veteran leadership to the franchise, it’s Carroll. He'll have a familiar face at quarterback after the Raiders traded for veteran Geno Smith, who started for Carroll in Seattle in 2022 and 2023, and the stability at that position could be huge.

The Raiders also have a franchise cornerstone on defense to build around after agreeing to a record-breaking three-year, $106.5 million extension for pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

NFLPA report card

Ranking: 4th

A new team facility received high marks across the board, as did owner Mark Davis. Players didn't always feel previous head coach Antonio Pierce was efficient with their time, but Pete Carroll is the man in charge now.

Here's how it broke down from the NFLPA and where the Raiders rank:

Key free agents

S Marcus Epps
RB Ameer Abdullah
CB Nate Hobbs
DT Adam Butler
DT John Jenkins
LB Robert Spillane
LB Divine Deablo
S Tre'von Moehrig

Who’s in/out: The Raiders should work to keep Moehrig this offseason. The former TCU star had 104 tackles, a career-high, and two interceptions last season. He has been a top-15 safety in the league in interceptions, forced incompletion rate, tackles for loss or no gain and defensive stops over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. For a defense losing a good chunk of its starters, Moehrig is an easy guy to keep around.

Key free-agent needs

Running back
Wide receiver
Offensive line

Outside of the defensive holes the team is facing, the Raiders averaged a league-worst 79.8 yards per game on the ground last season, so a veteran running back would go a long way if they don't want to pick up a marquee rookie in the draft. A proven wide receiver target would help, too, and would support tight end Brock Bowers. And, of course, an extra lineman or two never huts.

Do they have the money?

Yes, and they've already spent some of it. The Raiders entered the offseason with among the most cap space in the NFL. Even after trading for Geno Smith and signing Crosby to a record deal, they still have an estimated $52 million in cap room, which ranks in the top half of the NFL.

Notable potential cuts

QB Gardner Minshew II (cut)
C Andre James

Why they might be gone: Minshew, despite starting for a good chuck of last season, is out the door, which will save the team about $6.3 million on cap space. With the Raiders moving on to a new quarterback, there was no reason to keep him around.

James lost his starting job to rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson last season, and the team could save more than $3 million if they drop the veteran after June 1.

Draft picks

1st round: No. 6
2nd round: No. 37
3rd round: No. 68
3rd round (from Jets): No. 73
4th round
5th round
6th round
6th round (compensatory)
6th round (compensatory)
7th round

Good draft fit

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Too rich for pick No. 6 overall? Maybe, but the Raiders' ground game was terrible after letting Josh Jacobs leave in free agency. And while offensive line help is always a good thing, especially with new quarterback Geno Smith having dealt with so much pass rush pressure in Seattle in recent seasons, another way to mitigate that is a stronger run game.

Nobody possesses more upside in the backfield than Jeanty in this draft class. The Heisman Trophy runner-up is the fourth-ranked overall player on Yahoo Sports NFL Draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald's consensus big board, and everything you want in a back — speed, burst, toughness between the tackles, balance, vision, pass protection, seriously you name it — you'll find in Jeanty. Imagine an offense with Smith, Brock Bowers, further investment in the O-line and wide receiver room, and then Jeanty. That's solid.

What can move the fantasy football needle this offseason?

Adding Geno Smith

Las Vegas’ fantasy outlook continues to hinge on getting a capable quarterback, and now they appear to have one. Fantasy managers have been begging Las Vegas to get Brock Bowers a QB. Bowers has top-10 overall fantasy upside, but his 112 catches as a rookie resulted in a modest five touchdowns. The Raiders upgrading at quarterback moves the needle. —Dalton Del Don