One of the biggest moves of the offseason was when the New York Giants sent a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to land star tight end Darren Waller. His first two full years with the Raiders were impressive as he had 1,145 receiving yards in 2019 and then broke the team’s reception record with 107 catches in 2020.

He landed a three-year contract extension from general manager Dave Ziegler last year, but he fell out of favor with the coaching staff quickly due to injuries. He was limited to just nine games last season with a hamstring injury. He was linked to a number of trade rumors during the season with The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reporting on November 6, 2022, that the Green Bay Packers offered a second-round pick for Waller. The Raiders decided to hang onto him only to trade him in the offseason. For his part, Waller wasn’t too surprised when he got the news that he was traded.

“Not totally shocked,” Waller said of the Raiders trade on the red carpet of his foundation’s event at Aria in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 22, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I had heard some things. There were different moments throughout the year that I heard I may be traded or I may not. So the actual event of it wasn’t too shocking.

“But I didn’t expect it to be the Giants.”

Why Was Darren Waller Traded?

Darren Waller became one of the faces of the Raiders in recent years and quickly immersed himself in the Las Vegas community. He even married Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum shortly before getting sent to New York. There could be many factors as to why he was traded, but he’s not going to overthink it. He’s just ready to move and start the next chapter of his career.

“I’m done questioning God and what he’s trying to do,” Waller said. “He’s gotten me to this point. I know that he’s going to continue to have a plan for me, you know?”

Waller Excited About Joining the New York Giants

There was excitement surrounding the idea of Josh McDaniels being able to utilize Darren Waller at tight end. Under McDaniels, Rob Gronkowski became a future Hall of Famer. However, Waller and Gronkowski have different playing styles. The former is fast and athletic while the latter is big and runs excellent routes. Waller may just not have been a fit with McDaniels, which is why they drafted Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to replace him. Regardless, Waller isn’t too upset about having to move. He’s quite excited about joining a Giants team that made the playoffs last season.

“It’s been great,” Waller said. “It’s been a great challenge. I love a good challenge and just forming a new relationship with my teammates. They’re really excited about winning. They’re really solid about doing things the right way and continuing to build a foundation on what they started last year. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

With New York having a young wide receiver corps without a star, Waller should be a major focal point in the offense this season.

Throughout organized team activities, Brian Hoyer took the first-team reps for the Las Vegas Raiders with Jimmy Garoppolo sitting out due to injury. Garoppolo had foot surgery in March after he failed a physical when he first signed with the team, per a May 25 report from The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur.

aHoyer has been in the NFL since 2009 and has spent four seasons under Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels when they were both with the New England Patriots. He has mostly been a backup throughout his career outside of the 2014 season where he started 13 games for the Cleveland Browns and the 2015 season where he started nine games for the Houston Texans. After 14 seasons in the NFL, Hoyer was considering walking away from the game this offseason, according to a June 22 column from Tafur and The Athletic.

“Hoyer almost retired, but a year in Las Vegas helping out Garoppolo and O’Connell was too good to pass up,” Tafur wrote. “He is 0-12 in his last 12 starts, but hey, win-loss records are not a quarterback stat. At least, that’s been the popular refrain around these parts. O’Connell is accurate, and the goal is for him to become a long-term backup.”

Could Brian Hoyer Be Week 1 Starter?

In his column, Vic Tafur wrote that “the expectation is that [Jimmy] Garoppolo will be back from foot surgery in time for training camp.” If that ends up being the case, he is the unquestioned starter heading into the 2023 season. However, the Raiders do need to prepare for the worst considering Garoppolo’s injury history. He hasn’t been able to make it through a whole season since 2019.

Chase Garbers and Aidan O’Connell are the only other quarterbacks on the roster outside of Garoppolo and Hoyer, and neither of them has ever taken a snap during an NFL regular season game. Unless the Raiders decided to add another veteran quarterback, Hoyer would be the Week 1 starter if Garoppolo can’t play. He hasn’t won a start since 2016 so it wouldn’t be the ideal situation for Las Vegas.

Brian Hoyer Excited to Play for Las Vegas Raiders

Brian Hoyer has been playing football for a long time now and even won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2018. As he nears the end of his career, there isn’t much more he can accomplish. So why didn’t he retire already? He was far too excited about the opportunity to come to Las Vegas and play for the Raiders.

“To get to year 15 is something I’m proud of, and obviously with this new opportunity, and this team, and this organization, really to end my career, that’s the way it’s going to be,” Hoyer said during a June 5 “Raiders Roundtable Live Show.” “I’m excited to meet all the guys, it’s obviously a great group, get to work with them every day, and just go out and execute and have fun.”

Hoyer knows Josh McDaniels’ offense well and is ready to help teach it to the players who are new to the team.

“I think that’s part of the role, part of the reason I’m here,” Hoyer said of teaching the offense. “We have a lot of other guys who have played in this system, adding Jakobi Meyers, one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with; he was able to learn it quickly.

“All of us who have played in the system before, it is our responsibility to help those other guys if they have questions or maybe point something out that they’re not noticing. I think that’s part of our role.”

Derek Carr has only been a part of the New Orleans Saints for a short time since signing with them on March 6. In that brief time, he quickly gained the respect and admiration of his new teammates.

Carr spent nine years as the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders but didn’t have much playoff success. The team went to the playoffs twice during his tenure and didn’t win a single game. Las Vegas will be hosting the Super Bowl for the 2023 season, which could offer Carr the perfect chance to get revenge against his old team. Saints star pass rusher Cameron Jordan would like to send his new teammate to his old stadium for the Super Bowl.

“I expect the Super Bowl,” Jordan said on June 19 during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I expect to take Derek Carr, DC4, back to Vegas where he just left and have a return run at the Super Bowl.”

The Saints went 7-10 last season and missed the playoffs with Andy Dalton starting 14 games. Dalton had a passer rating of 95.2 last season, which was better than Carr’s 86.3. Is he good enough to turn the Saints from a non-playoff team to a Super Bowl contender? That will be one of the most interesting storylines to watch this season.

Michael Thomas Praises Derek Carr

Derek Carr was beloved by his teammates on the Raiders but was the fall guy following a disappointing 6-11 season where he was benched following a Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that Carr is in New Orleans, he has shown he can quickly develop relationships with new plays. Wide receiver Michael Thomas has been impressed with Carr since he joined the team.

“He wants to win just like I want to win,” Thomas said, via a June 9 article from Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “He’s just very disciplined. He’s on top of his stuff. He came here for a reason. That’s the same type of confidence I hear in his voice – he came here for a reason, he came here to win. You can feel the sense of urgency. He loves ball. It’s not hard working with him. … He tells me what to do, I tell him where I’m going to be, and we’re on the same page. We can execute at a high level.”

Cameron Jordan Has High Expectations for New Orleans Saints

The Saints have missed the playoffs in two straight years since quarterback Drew Brees retired. The team hasn’t been back to the Super Bowl since 2009. Despite that Cameron Jordan is confident that the team can go far this year.

“Nobody has ever walked into a season (and) been like, ‘Ooh, I hope we win 10 games,'” Jordan said during the SiriusXM NFL Radio appearance. “No, I’m trying to win each and every game that we play. My expectation is being 21-0, 22-0, whatever it takes to get to a Super Bowl. I want to beat each and every team we line across.

“Every tackle, who I’m never gonna know their names, but like every dud that’s out there, we’re trying to beat the breaks off of them. I’m trying to get to each and every quarterback. The reality is, we have potential. The mentality is, we want to as a defense take over each and every game. And there’s no allowance to be like, ‘Hey, I think we could be a 12-5 team.’ I think we can win each and every one of these things.”

The Las Vegas Raiders are going to have some intriguing roster battles this offseason, but possibly the most interesting to watch will be cornerback. The team moved on from Week 1 starters Rock Ya-Sin and Anthony Averett this offseason, bringing in several new faces, including David Long Jr. and Duke Shelley.

The Raiders also added Jakorian Bennett out of Maryland in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With so many new faces, some returning players will be fighting for a roster spot. 2020 fourth-round pick Amik Robertson battled last season until he was able to win over the new coaching staff. Despite only being 5-foot-8, he led Raiders cornerbacks with two interceptions last season. However, that may not be enough to keep him on the roster in 2023.

According to their June 20 roster predictions, Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic predict that R0bertson narrowly misses the cut.

“Robertson and [Sam] Webb will both have the chance to fight for a roster spot,” Tafur and Reed wrote. “The 5-foot-8 Robertson was one of the new Raiders brass’ favorite players that they inherited, but his size limitations are tricky and ultimately prove his undoing.”

The Raiders drafted seven players in 2020, but Robertson is the only one who remains on the roster for now.

Las Vegas Raiders Likely to Bring in Veteran CB?

What’s also working against Amik Robertson is that the Raiders may not be done adding cornerbacks. Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur mentioned in their roster predictions that the team is likely to add another veteran cornerback in the coming weeks.

“This list doesn’t include Marcus Peters, or whatever veteran the Raiders ultimately bring in for training camp,” Reed and Tafur wrote.

Reed and Tafur previously reported on June 14 that veteran cornerback Marcus Peters is “likely” to sign with the Raiders. That move has yet to happen, but it’s sounding like the team is aiming to add a veteran cornerback. Peters is a three-time Pro Bowler but has missed 2o combined games over the last two seasons due to injury. If he can stay healthy, he would bring a veteran presence and some ball-hawking ability. He has 32 career interceptions.

CB Named Roster Hole for Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders haven’t had a cornerback make the Pro Bowl since Nnamdi Asomugha in 2010. It’s a position that they have had a difficult time addressing in the draft. D.J. Hayden, Gareon Conley and Damon Arnette were all first-round picks since 2013 and none of them made it to a second contract with the Raiders. Some aren’t buying that the team has done enough to address the position this offseason.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra put together a list of the 10 biggest roster holes in the NFL on June 20 and listed the Raiders’ cornerbacks at No. 3.

“Surprisingly, Vegas didn’t upgrade the O-line, but the cornerback cupboard is particularly bare,” Patra wrote. “David Long Jr. and Duke Shelley are currently pegged as the outside corners, but neither has been a full-time starter before. Nate Hobbs is a solid nickel. The group lacks a No. 1 and is counting on parts to create a whole. Adding a veteran to solidify the corps should be a priority before the season kicks off.”

The Las Vegas Raiders players are set to have the next month as they await the end of July to start training camp. One of the biggest things to watch in the coming weeks is the health of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He underwent foot surgery soon after the team signed him in March, per a May 25 report from Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic.

If Garoppolo isn’t recovering as quickly as the team hopes, they will need to evaluate their quarterback options. The team is hosting the San Francisco 49ers on August 10 and 11 for a joint training camp practice ahead of their August 13 preseason matchup in Las Vegas. The 49ers have three interesting quarterbacks on the roster in Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. Purdy is expected to be the starter going forward and isn’t going anywhere.

Lance, on the other hand, could be on the way out. NFL analyst and former scout John Middlekauff believes that the Raiders could keep a close eye on the former No. 3 overall pick and consider a trade if he looks impressive.

“Jimmy Garoppolo, they’re banking on him being healthy. He can’t even pass a physical in June for the second time in two years,” Middlekauff said on the June 16 episode of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.” “That could be a disaster. What if [Lance] looks good against the Raiders? … You can’t just be irrelevant in Vegas, and if Jimmy is injured, they have Brian Hoyer. You wouldn’t just trade a [fourth-round pick] to see what you got?”

Sam Darnold Has Edge on Trey Lance: Insider

John Middlekauff does raise an interesting point. The Raiders are going to get a closer look at Trey Lance than any other team outside of San Francisco during training camp. If Las Vegas does see some potential, there’s always a chance to make to look a move. In the meantime, it’s looking like Lance has completely fallen out of favor with the 49ers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes that Sam Darnold could win the backup role behind Brock Purdy. That would leave Lance on the outside looking in.

“We’ll see how Darnold and Trey Lance do in camp this summer,” Schefter said on the June 21 episode of the “Pat McAfee Show.” “My guess would be Darnold has a chance to really shine and excel, but there’s a lot of preseason football left for those two guys to distinguish himself.”

“Look, Brock Purdy is the one, if healthy,” Schefter later added. “And I think going into camp, Sam Darnold, I think, has the edge going into camp.”

No Trade Interest in Trey Lance?

If the Raiders wanted to trade for Trey Lance, they likely wouldn’t be facing much competition. According to Adam Schefter, the interest around the league in the quarterback is nonexistent.

“There really was never a lot of interest in Trey Lance,” Schefter said during the same appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “… There was no trade market.”

Lance is only 23, but opinions on him appear to be low. That said, he’s still 6-foot-4 with a cannon arm. There could be some potential in there for a coach to unlock. The Raiders don’t have a high-upside quarterback on their roster so adding Lance would be an intriguing project for head coach Josh McDaniels.

Over the past few years, quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Darren Waller were two of the faces of the Las Vegas Raiders. They will now be playing for new teams in 2023. Carr landed with the New Orleans Saints after getting cut by the Raiders in February while Waller was traded to the New York Giants for a 2023 third-round pick.

Despite the fact that the two are no longer on the Raiders, they are still spending some time in Las Vegas. According to a June 21 Instagram photo from Carr, he was working out with Waller in Las Vegas.

Carr and Waller formed a close connection during their times with the Raiders. In 2022, Waller set the franchise record for receptions in a season with 107 catches. Most of those catches came from Carr’s passes. Players don’t have to be close to their teams right now as training camp doesn’t start until the end of July. Many are on vacation ahead of the football season, but Waller and Carr are still putting in work.

Derek Carr & Darren Waller Don’t Plan to Leave Las Vegas

It’s not a surprise to see Carr and Waller in Las Vegas during the offseason. Though they aren’t on the Raiders, they still built homes in Sin City. Carr made a home with his family in the city. He previously said that he could see Las Vegas being where he spends the rest of his life with his family.

“My wife and I never thought this, but we were talking about how we could live here for the rest of our life,” Carr said in a 2021 appearance on “The Cris Collinsworth Podcast.” “We really love the city of Las Vegas because it’s more than the Strip and the partying and all that kind of stuff.

“The family atmosphere that happens around outside of all of that has really been awesome.”

Waller also still has strong ties to the city. His wife Kelsey Plum is a starting guard for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA. He was recently in attendance for the Aces’ June 18 home match against the Minnesota Lynx. Though it won’t be as easy for him to attend Plum’s games once training camp starts, he’ll still be spending a lot of time in Las Vegas going forward.

Derek Carr Recently Acknowledged Disappointing Season

Derek Carr’s last season with the Raiders didn’t go to plan. After a 2021 playoff run where the team went 10-7, expectations were high for 2022. Carr ended up going 6-9 as a starter and was benched following a Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers where he threw three interceptions. Carr recently acknowledged that his performance wasn’t up to his standard last season.

“I don’t think they got the best version of me,” Carr said during his June 13 media availability. “There was so much going on, and I didn’t really sit down and just make it football again. Football is the ultimate team game. It’s about your teammates, about loving one another, about having each other’s back and making sure there’s a certain level of respect between each other. … I’m just trying to be a better teammate every year.”

There has been no indication that the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs are nearing a contract agreement. The star running back is currently on the franchise tag but has yet to sign the tender. He has until July 17 to reach a long-term deal with the team or he’ll have to wait until 2024. If the two sides don’t come to a long-term agreement, the saga won’t be over quite yet.

Jacobs can decide to holdout, which would mean the Raiders wouldn’t pay him the $10.1 million he’s owed on the franchise tag. The NFL’s leading rusher has hinted on Twitter that he might be willing to take a stand for the future of the running back position. He continues to be cryptic on social media. On June 20, he tweeted out a message that simply said, “Bad business.”

It’s not clear what he meant by that, but it’s possible he’s referencing the fact that the Raiders have still not paid him. He certainly has people on his side. Former Raiders offensive guard Richie Incognito, who played with Jacobs his first three years in the NFL from 2019 to 2021, came out and made it clear that he thinks the running back should get paid.

Insider Urges Josh Jacobs to Sign a Deal

Paying running backs has fallen out of fashion in the NFL. Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley are two other star running backs who are currently on the franchise tag. Pollard has signed his tender, but Barkley has not, which led to him missing organized team activities.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes all of these running backs are fighting a losing battle. While he does believe that they should do what they can to get the biggest contract possible, he is urging them to accept whatever deal they can get by July 17.

“The reality of the situation is that all the protesting in the world isn’t going to change any of this, and history hasn’t favored the back who’s gambled on himself,” Breer wrote in a June 19 column. “So, yes, Saquon, Josh and Tony, draw hard lines over the next month. Push your agent to keep pushing the team to make concessions, and sweeten your deal. But don’t do anything to jeopardize the money that you have worked so hard to earn.”

Josh Jacobs Previously Said He’d Be Willing to Play on Franchise Tag

Josh Jacobs has changed his tune in recent weeks. He has never been excited about the idea of playing on the franchise tag, but he did previously say he would be willing to play on it if he thought the Raiders were in a position to win.

“Obviously, I wouldn’t want to get franchise tagged,” Jacobs told Pro Football Talk in a February 9 interview. “But I wouldn’t mind it if they got the right guys in the building around us. [If] they got some guys on defense, figure out the quarterback situation, got some guys up front, then I would be like, ‘OK, I really wouldn’t mind coming back on the franchise tag.’ But if you want me to come back and be the hero, you’ve got to pay me like the hero.”

Either his mindset has changed or he hasn’t been overly impressed with what the team has done this offseason as he appears much less keen to play on the franchise tag now.

With Josh Jacobs not having signed his franchise tag tender yet, the Las Vegas Raiders running back room could be a group to watch. If Jacobs holds out or forces the team to move on, the starting running back job would be up for the taking. Despite Jacobs handling 340 of the team’s 428 rushing attempts, they decided to keep five running backs on the active roster for all of last season.

Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, Brittain Brown and Brandon Bolden were with the team last year and are still in Las Vegas. However, it will be difficult for the Raiders to justify keeping five running backs again if Jacobs does end up staying put. In their June 20 roster predictions, Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic predict that Bolden ends up being the odd man out.

“The Raiders kept five running backs last year, but it proved to be a pretty unnecessary luxury as Jacobs took the lion’s share of the snaps and touches,” Tafur and Reed wrote. “Because he likely isn’t going anywhere even though he hasn’t signed his franchise tag, that’s a mistake they probably won’t make again. [Zamir] White and [Brittain] Brown are more confident now that they have another year under their belt and, while Bolden is a favorite among the coaching staff and locker room, it’s hard to justify giving him a roster spot.”

Brandon Bolden Didn’t Make Big Impact Last Season

Brandon Bolden joined the Raiders offseason on a two-year contract. He has spent nine of his 10 seasons under Josh McDaniels. Eight of those came across two stints when McDaniels was the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. He has a deep understanding of the offense but didn’t have much of a role last season.

According to Sports Reference, Bolden played just 82 offensive snaps, which accounted for 8% of the team’s offensive snaps. He was much more involved on special teams where he played in 60% of those snaps. Bolden was previously a focal point of McDaniels’ offenses in New England and had 41 receptions in 2021. However, Ameer Abdullah appears to have won over the coaching staff as he played in 16% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps last season and he’s under contract for 2023. The two veteran running backs serve similar roles so one of them is likely to get cut. Based on the snap count disparity from last season, Bolden is the most likely to be released.

Ameer Abdullah Talks Role on Offense

Ameer Abdullah was brought in by the Raiders last offseason and he quickly gain favor with the coaching staff. His ability in the passing game cemented him as the team’s third-down running back last year. If Josh Jacobs is back this season, he’ll be on the field at running back the majority of the time for the offense, but it remains important to have a capable third-down running back in Josh McDaniels’ offense.

Abdullah doesn’t take offense to getting the majority of his snaps on third down as he believes it’s a very important role to have in the NFL.

“I mean third down is important in this league, and whatever I’m asked to do, I’m going to try to do my best at it whether it’s third down, first down, no matter what,” Abdullah said during his June 9 media availability, via Sports Illustrated. “But yes, third downs are very important in this league.”

Maxx Crosby knows how to keep himself busy in the offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end married longtime girlfriend Rachel Washburn on March 4 and continues to be hard at work getting ready for the 2023 season.

The Raiders finished up organized team activities on June 15 and players won’t have to report back to the team until training camp. Las Vegas hasn’t announced when training camp starts, but it typically happens at the end of July. In the meantime, Crosby did something for himself during the off time. The Pro Bowl defensive end showed off an extensive new torso tattoo in a June 18 tweet.

The new tattoo covers his entire torso and features pictures of his daughter Ella Rose, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. The tattoo also features the phrase “Be Legendary.”

According to a June 20 report from TMZ, Andres Ortega at Onder Ink is the tattoo artist who did the piece for Crosby. Ortega told TMZ that it took 11 hours to finish the tattoo.

Maxx Crosby Looking to Build Off of Strong Season

Maxx Crosby has had a meteoric rise since he was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He quickly became an impact player for the Raiders as a rookie and 10.0 sacks. He continues to improve and had 12.5 sacks while leading the NFL with 22 tackles for loss. However, he is not content with where he is right now.

Not only is he focusing on improving his own play, but he’s also working hard to be a veteran leader for the young players.

“That’s what I want to be,” Crosby said during his May 25 media availability, “a great veteran for all the young guys and just have them come to me if they need anything.

“I do everything I can to put myself in the best position to help this team, be the best leader I can be and be the best player down to down in the National Football League. … I try to show my teammates what that looks like every single day. Even when the rookies came in, I told them, ‘Just follow me every single day. If you want to continue building your career, follow me.’ I’m going to do it the right way.”

Tyree Wilson Excited to Work With Maxx Crosby

Maxx Crosby is no longer the young player who is looking to learn from veterans. He is the leader and best player on the Raiders defense. The team gave him an exciting, young running mate in this year’s draft. With the No. 7 overall pick, Las Vegas took defensive end Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech. Wilson is still recovering from offseason foot surgery, but he can’t wait to get on the field with Crosby.

“When I was eating breakfast, Maxx came through and I chopped it up with him a little bit,” Wilson said, via a June 1 story from ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “I’m excited to be his teammate and get to learn and work with him.

“I’ve been watching him for a while. He’s a great pass-rusher, dominant and a disruptive player that’s going to be relentless all over the field. That’s what I try to have my game at – be relentless and disruptive.”

The Las Vegas Raiders are nearing a point where they will need to make a decision on running back Josh Jacobs. The team used the franchise tag on the 2022 Pro Bowler, but he has yet to sign the tender. He has until July 17 to reach a long-term deal with Las Vegas or he’s going to have to wait until 2024 to reopen contract negotiations.

If the two sides aren’t going to come to a long-term deal this offseason, Jacobs can either choose to play on the franchise tag tender, or the team can rescind it and allow him to test free agency. While the latter option is unlikely, Cody Benjamin pitched a scenario in a June 19 column for CBS Sports that would see Jacobs hit free agency and sign a three-year, $39 million contract with the Denver Broncos.

“We doubt the Raiders would prefer to trade their franchise player inside the division, but Denver’s new coach, Sean Payton, gushed about Jacobs earlier this offseason, paid decent money for starting RBs in New Orleans, and could use downhill insurance as Javonte Williams returns from injury, with newcomer Samaje Perine better suited for No. 2 duties,” Benjamin wrote. “Las Vegas could simply rescind the franchise tag if it knows Jacobs is committed to netting a bigger deal elsewhere, allowing the Raiders’ quasi-Patriots regime to save an instant $10M and revert to a RB-by-committee approach.”

What Sean Payton Said About Josh Jacobs

Javonte Williams impressed the Broncos during his rookie year in 2021 when he rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns. Expectations were high for him in 2022, but he was limited to just four games after suffering tears to the ACL, LCL and posterolateral corner. Sean Payton is new to the team this year and has no allegiance to players from the previous coaching staff.

Josh Jacobs was the NFL’s leading rusher last year with 1,653 yards and could be the focal point for a Broncos offense that finished 21st in the league with 113.8 rushing yards per game last season. Payton even hinted after he took the head coaching job that he would have some interest in Jacobs.

“He was outstanding this year,” Payton said on a February 9 episode of “Up & Adams.” “A downhill, physical runner. For a team that wasn’t necessarily always having success, he was always consistently playing well. I’m glad he’s a free agent. I encourage everyone to look at him, get him out of the [AFC] West.

“Maybe we look at him.”

Why Wouldn’t the Las Vegas Raiders Trade Josh Jacobs Instead?

Players on the franchise tag can be traded. Just last year, the Raiders traded a first and second-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for star wide receiver Davante Adams while he was on the franchise tag. Now, star wide receivers have proven to be more valuable than running backs on the open market in recent years. The Raiders wouldn’t be looking at a huge haul if they traded Jacobs.

That said, he does have value. As noted previously, he led the NFL in rushing last year. He’s also just 25 years old. In a June 15 column for Bleacher Report, Maurice Moton stated that Jacobs would be worth at least a second-round pick in a trade. If the Raiders decided to go the route of trading him, they would likely be able to find some value considering teams wouldn’t have to take on a long-term contract that has already been signed.

As of June 15, every team in the NFL has wrapped up organized team activities. The next time all the players and coaches will be back on the field together is training camp. With OTAs in the rearview mirror, teams now have a better idea of what their needs are ahead of training camp.

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided they needed to add a linebacker. According to 93.7 The Fan’s Colin Dunlap, the team is signing veteran linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

Kwiatkoski was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so joining the Steelers will be a homecoming. He originally came into the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears. After four years as a part-time starter and depth piece, he joined the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $21 million contract to be a full-time starter. He started all 12 games he played in 2020 but lost his starting job in 2021. The Raiders let him go after the 2021 season and he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in 12 games last season and recorded just seven combined tackles. He had a hard time carving out a role on the defense last season. He’ll face an uphill battle trying to make the Steelers roster.

Las Vegas Raiders’ Divine Deablo Talks Injury Last Season

The Raiders have cycled through many linebackers throughout the past decade, but haven’t found many long-term options. The team added Divine Deablo in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and he earned a starting role in just his second season. He started eight games before an injury knocked him out for the season. Deablo recently had a chance to give some insight into the injury.

“I didn’t think my arm was broken,” Deablo said during his June 6 media availability. “The X-ray came and it turned out to be broken. Of course, I was down, I was sad … I knew I was going to miss the rest of the season, but I saw it as an opportunity.

“I just studied the game; I worked harder and this offseason I stayed here the whole time just in hopes that it will work out on the field.”

Josh McDaniels a Fan of Divine Deablo

Deablo was part of former Raiders general manager Mike Mayock’s last draft class. Despite the fact that he wasn’t one of current general manager Dave Ziegler’s, he has quickly earned the respect of the front office and coaching staff. Head coach Josh McDaniels had high praise for the 24-year-old linebacker.

“I’m really fond of Divine,” McDaniels said during his June 6 media availability. “I think he knows that, and we’ve given them a lot of responsibility. … Divine has grown literally every week since I’ve seen him and known him. He works really hard at the game of football. I think he’s embraced this year as a year that is a growth year for him, not only on the field in terms of what he does on the field, but also how he can impact others.”

The Raiders didn’t make any splashy moves at linebacker this offseason so they are relying heavily on Deablo to take a leap in Year 3. He has been wearing the green dot in practice and leading the defense, which is a sign that the coaching staff trusts him.

Jimmy Garoppolo was around the Las Vegas Raiders during organized team activities, but he wasn’t on the field due to an injury. The veteran quarterback underwent surgery to repair his injured foot after he signed with the in March, according to a May 25 report from The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network later reported on June 6 that Garoppolo is expected to be back in time for training camp. There has been no word of any setback, but this latest injury issue has led to speculation that the quarterback won’t be in Las Vegas very long. In a June 17 column for Bleacher Report about which top quarterbacks are “most likely to change teams” after the 2023 NFL season, Kristopher Knox listed Garoppolo.

“While Garoppolo is expected to be the Week 1 starter, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be or stay healthy this season. That could leave Las Vegas relying on Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell and perhaps stumbling into a top 2024 draft pick,” Knox wrote.

“If the Raiders do end up in a position to draft a QB prospect like Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, Garoppolo could be on the way out. Las Vegas could release him next offseason and save $13 million off the 2024 cap.”

Jimmy Garoppolo Has Extensive Injury History

Injuries are part of the game in the NFL, but Garoppolo’s history is something for the Raiders to keep in mind. He became a full-time starter with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. Since then, he has played every game in a season just once in 2019. That was the season he led the team to a Super Bowl appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs. Though the 49ers lost the game, Garoppolo proved he can lead a team far if he’s able to stay healthy.

However, he has missed 18 regular season games with injury since that season, including six games last year. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on May 27 that the Raiders put a clause in his contract that would allow the Raiders to cut him without penalty if he’s unable to pass a physical by the start of the 2023 season. As previously noted, the team does not expect that to be an issue.

Las Vegas Raiders’ Plan at Quarterback

With Garoppolo hurt, veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer took all of the first-team reps during OTAs. Hoyer worked with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels when he was the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots in 2017 and 2018 and then again from 2020 to 2021. He knows the system well and will bring valuable insight to the offense. That said, he has won a start since the 2016 season. He’s 37 now and has only started more than 10 games once in a season back in 2014 with the Cleveland Browns.

The other quarterbacks on the roster are rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and 2022 undrafted free agent signing Chase Garbers. Neither has ever taken an NFL snap. The Raiders are relying heavily on Garoppolo getting healthy. If training camp arrives and he’s still not healthy, the team could look at some veterans in the free agent market like Carson Wentz or Teddy Bridgewater. The fact that the Raiders haven’t made any recent moves at quarterback is a positive sign that Garoppolo will be healthy.

With the Las Vegas Raiders wrapping up organized team activities on June 15, the coaching staff has gotten its best look yet at the new roster. Cornerback was a concern heading into OTAs and it appears to still be a position they hope to address. The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed reported on June 14 that the team was “likely” to sign free agent cornerback Marcus Peters.

Peters is a three-time Pro Bowler and most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens. He’s the biggest name cornerback left on the market. While The Athletic is reporting that a deal is likely, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal threw some cold water on the idea in a June 16 mailbag. He does believe the Raiders are in the mix but nothing is imminent quite yet.

“Now that OTAs are over, the sense is the Raiders will take a long, hard look at whether to bring in Peters. That includes evaluating where he is at this point in his career. He’s now nearly two years removed from the knee injury he suffered that cost him the entire 2021 season,” Bonsignore wrote.

“Hard to classify this as a for-sure signing, but at the end of the day this feels like a logical fit. The educated guess is 60/40 the Raiders sign him.”

Marcus Peters Is a Las Vegas Raiders Fan at Heart

Peters was born and raised in Oakland, California, where the Raiders played from 1960 to 1981 then again from 1995 to 2019. The Raiders were the team he grew up watching, but he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015. The Raiders and Chiefs have a rivalry that dates back to the former team’s creation in 1960.

The two teams share a division and play each other twice a year. That was tough for Peters at first as he grew up a big fan of the Raiders.

“It’s going to be real special because I’m a Raiders fan at heart, but I’m a Chief now,” Peters said in a 2015 interview with The Mercury News when he was about to play his first NFL game in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during his rookie year.

In Peters’ first professional game in Oakland, he had six tackles and an interception en route to a 34-20 win. His love for the Raiders didn’t affect his play on the field. All these years later, he has the chance to play for the team he grew up loving.

Tyler Hall Named Among Best Slot Cornerbacks

Peters is an experienced cornerback who could provide a boost to the Raiders’ secondary, but there are some well-regarded players already part of the group. With cornerback Nate Hobbs asked to play more snaps on the outside last season, the team enlisted Tyler Hall to take many of the snaps at slot cornerback. Braxton Howard of Pro Football Focus was impressed with Hall last season and ranked him as the third-best slot corner in the NFL based on passer rating allowed in a June 16 column.

“Hall was an undrafted free agent in 2020 and hasn’t really found a steady place to call home since. However, that may have changed, as he had a silent breakout year in Las Vegas with an 86.9 PFF grade last season on 218 snaps. He didn’t appear in a game until Week 11, but his snap count picked up steam from that point forward,” Howard wrote.

“Hall performed phenomenally against San Francisco in Week 17, as he was targeted twice and broke up both passes. That led him to a career-high 90.4 coverage grade, which is elite. On the season, Hall allowed under 50 yards in coverage while breaking up four passes and not giving up a single touchdown. The Raiders may have found their new slot corner as Nate Hobbs transitions to the outside.”

The Las Vegas Raiders officially wrapped up organized team activities on June 15 but there was no sign of star running back Josh Jacobs. The team placed the franchise tag on the NFL’s leading rusher from last season and he has yet to sign the tender. Without signing the tender, Jacobs is actually not allowed at the team facilities.

The running back has hinted on Twitter that he may be wanting to take a stand for future backs, which could mean he’s not going to play on the franchise tag. He has until July 17 to sign his tender and reach a long-term deal. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, the Raiders will have to find a solution. According to Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, that solution could be a trade to the Los Angeles Rams. In a June 15 column, Moton pitched a trade that sends Jacobs to the Rams for a 2024 second-round pick.

“The Raiders may choose to pivot from their lead rusher,” Moton wrote. “They selected Zamir White in the fourth round of last year’s draft. If the coaching staff thinks the second-year ball-carrier can provide 75 percent of Jacobs’ production while under contract for less than $1.1 million, Vegas may place its top running back on the trade block.

“In the event that Jacobs wants to move on, the Rams may become a viable suitor. They can restructure Aaron Donald’s contract to save $20.5 million and fit Jacobs’ new deal under the cap.”

What Happens if Josh Jacobs Doesn’t Sign the Franchise Tag?

July 17 is the date to keep an eye on for players on the franchise tag. However, if Jacobs doesn’t come to an agreement with the Raiders by that point, he’s not going to be free to sign with any team. According to former NFL Joel Corry in a March 9 column for CBS Sports, league rules state that once the July 17 deadline passes, players on the franchise tag will not be able to negotiate a long-term deal with their team until the end of the regular season on January 7, 2024.

If Jacobs doesn’t reach a long-term deal with the Raiders, the next date to watch is November 14 in 2023, which would be Week 10 of the regular season. That is the last day he’d be able to sign the franchise tag tender. If he still refuses to sign it, he will not be allowed to play for the remainder of the 2023 season. He would be giving up $10.1 million in salary if he decided to take that route, per Spotrac.

Josh McDaniels Is a Big Fan of Josh Jacobs

The Raiders had a disappointing year last season and went 6-11 after reaching the playoffs in 2021. One of the few bright spots for the team was Jacobs, who led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards. Though he hasn’t been at practice, head coach Josh McDaniels recently made it clear how much he values the Pro Bowl running back.

“The deadline [for a long-term deal] is not until July,” McDaniels said during his June 6 media availability. “I respect everything about that process. This is not the first time that’s happened in terms of me being a part of that. Like I said, I stand by what I said before — love the kid, love the player, love the person. Look forward to when I see him.”

In his short time with the New Orleans Saints, Derek Carr is having quite an impact on the team. On June 15, the team announced that they have signed former Las Vegas Raiders third-round pick Lynn Bowden.

With the Bowden signing, the Saints have now signed five former Raiders who played with Carr.

Tight end Foster Moreau, safety Johnathan Abram and wide receiver Bryan Edwards were also signed by New Orleans this offseason. That’s not to mention former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen is the current Saints head coach, and the team recently brought in Jon Gruden as a consultant. The only aforementioned player that Allen coached previously was Carr when he was a rookie in 2014. The coach only lasted four games with the quarterback as he was fired following a winless start.

Lynn Bowden Never Played a Snap for the Las Vegas Raiders

Bowden was a member of the Raiders in 2020 when the team selected him as a third-round pick. However, he never ended up playing a snap for the team. Bowden was technically a wide receiver at Kentucky but was moved to quarterback as a junior. He only threw 74 passes in 13 games as the team used him more as a runner. During his junior season, he rushed for 1,468 yards. The Raiders saw that and believed they could transition him to running back.

Las Vegas decided to trade Bowden to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round pick prior to the start of the 2020 season. General manager at the time Mike Mayock admitted that it was a mistake trying to transition him from wide receiver to running back. He decided to cut his losses early.

“He was not able to play today at the level expected and because of that, we felt like we had to make a move,” Mayock said of Bowden during a June 6, 2020, press conference. “And, again, it’s 100% on me.”

Since getting traded by the Raiders, Bowden saw his most significant playing time with the Dolphins. He played in 10 games and had 28 catches for 211 yards. He spent some time with the New England Patriots last season where he played in one game but didn’t record any stats.

Derek Carr Impressed With Alvin Kamara

After nine years with the Raiders, Carr has moved on and is embracing his new home. He’s going to have some dynamic pieces to work with on offense. One of the players he’s excited to work with is Alvin Kamara. The five-time Pro Bowler is already impressing Carr throughout organized team activities.

“I just absolutely love him. Great teammate, great energy about him, and very explosive. He’s so smooth on film, you really just don’t know how good he is — obviously you see the film, but then when you get in person, he ran a couple routes where I looked at Jake today like, ‘That’s not normal,’” Carr said during his June 13 media availability. “Being around him just for a little bit in the building, people don’t know how smart he is at football, he knows what to see, he knows what route to run, he knows how to use his help, that combined with his athletic ability, you see why he’s had that production.”

The New York Jets could suddenly be in the mix for a proven standout.

Adam Thompson of bookies.com released betting odds on where running back Josh Jacobs could suit up for the upcoming 2023 season. Gang Green was the top-ranked team not named the Las Vegas Raiders at +500.

Here is the full list of the team odds:

1. Las Vegas Raiders (-125)
2. New York Jets (+500)
3. Houston Texans (+650)
4. Chicago Bears (+800)
5. Arizona Cardinals (+950)

Jacobs entered the league as the No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Disgruntled Raiders RB Could Attempt to Force His Way Out

The 25-year-old just completed the final year of his rookie contract in 2022.

Through the first three seasons in the NFL, the former Alabama product put up solid production with 3,087 rushing yards, 4.2 rushing yards per attempt, and 28 total touchdowns.

However, Jacobs couldn’t have picked a better time to have a career year in 2023.

He rushed for a league-leading 1,653 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 4.9 yards per clip. On top of Jacobs’ rushing prowess, he also contributed through the air. He caught 53 receptions for an additional 400 receiving yards.

The first-team All-Pro was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason but the Raiders prevented that from happening with the franchise tag. He has skipped both the voluntary workouts and the mandatory minicamp this offseason.

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Jacobs is seeking a long-term deal and the team is hoping he will sign and play under the $10.09 million franchise tag.

Thompson of bookies.com said Jacobs is starting to sound “disgruntled.”

Jets Flirting With Potential RB Upgrades

Head coach Robert Saleh was asked about the sudden availability of free agent running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, June 9.

The coach said, “Obviously we’ll turn the stones over on that one.”

That response was a far cry from what he said back at the NFL’s owner meetings on March 27. Saleh was asked about the rumored interest in ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

“We love our running back room. I’ll leave it at that.”

Saleh went from loving his running back room to “obviously” exploring the Cook option in free agency a couple of months later.

The only answer that makes sense is a potential change to the recovery and rehab timeline of second-year running back Breece Hall. He tore his ACL during the Week 7 matchup versus the Denver Broncos in 2022.

While the team has said all the right things publically about his expected return in Week 1 not everyone is buying what the team is selling.

“They keep talking about how Breece Hall is good to go so if they’re right and they aren’t blowing smoke. I’m skeptical he’s going to be the same Breece right away,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained during an appearance on my podcast on June 13.

If Hall will be healthy by the start of the season, then the Jets’ flirtations with other running back options are probably all fluff. However, if some doubt is starting to creep in about his recovery or the team just wants to play it safe by adding another body, things could get very interesting this offseason.

Jacobs’ rights belong to the Raiders due to the franchise tag. So for the Jets to acquire him it would have to be a tag-and-trade scenario or Las Vegas would have to rescind the franchise tag which would make the talented rusher an unrestricted free agent.

After nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders, Derek Carr is now a member of the New Orleans Saints. When Carr signed a three-year contract extension with the Raiders in April of 2022, things weren’t expected to sour so quickly. In his first year under head coach Josh McDaniels, he had a passer rating of 86.3, which was the lowest since his rookie year (76.6).

He also tied a career-high of 14 interceptions. This led to him getting benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham following a Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he threw three interceptions. Expectations were high for Carr in 2022 following the Raiders’ offseason trade for star wide receiver Davante Adams. He wasn’t able to reach those expectations and he understands that. Carr admitted that he wasn’t playing up to his standard last season.

“They just didn’t get my best and that drove me crazy at the end of the year because I felt so spread out in so many different ways,” Carr said during his June 13 media availability. “I just didn’t feel like myself and I feel bad for the (Raiders) coaches and players.”

Why Did Derek Carr Struggle in 2022?

Opinions were high regarding Carr following the 2021 season. He helped lead the Raiders to a playoff berth that required them to win four straight games to end the year. Owner Mark Davis decided to replace interim head coach Rich Bisaccia with Josh McDaniels, who almost completely reworked the coaching staff. The Raiders were 6-9 before Carr was benched and lost the following two games with Stidham at the helm.

The quarterback and McDaniels haven’t directly addressed where things went wrong but David Carr, Derek Carr’s brother, has given some insight. According to him, the two just had different styles and saw the game of football differently.

“I think the issue with Derek and Josh was that there was always a bit of head-butting going on because they were different styles,” Carr said on a March 13 episode of “NFL Total Access.”

Carr had spent the previous four years with Jon Gruden, who likes to have his quarterback exercise a lot of control over the offense. McDaniels prefers to have things more scripted. That difference in philosophy proved too big for the two sides to work it out.

Derek Carr Hoping to Return to Form in New Orleans

Carr had previously stated in a June 15, 2021, press conference that he would sooner “quit” football than play for a team other than the Raiders. Two years made quite a difference for him. Things didn’t end how he would’ve liked in Las Vegas and the Saints are providing a fresh start. They even brought in Jon Gruden to give some ideas for the offense to help make Carr more comfortable. He’s hoping to bounce back in a big way this season now that he’s in New Orleans.

“I’ve tried my best to get back to that. Hopefully, it leads to some success,” Carr said. “It’s going to be a great lesson for me to learn to help some guys down the road when they go through a coaching change or a shift in whatever they’re doing.”

Jon Gruden is slowly working his way back into football. The former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders recently made an appearance at organized team activities for the New Orleans Saints to help the team’s offense as they transition to quarterback Derek Carr, who played under the coach for four seasons with the Raiders.

Carr isn’t the only quarterback Gruden has worked with this offseason. According to a June 14 tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, free agent quarterback Carson Wentz is in Tampa Bay, Florida, working with the coach. They have been studying film and throwing as Wentz has an eye toward joining an NFL team.

Wentz is coming off a season with the Washington Commanders where he threw a career-low 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He opened the season as the starting quarterback for the team but was placed on Injured Reserve after fracturing the ring finger on his throwing hand during a Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears. By the time Wentz returned on December 12, 2022, the starting quarterback job was taken over by Taylor Heinicke. Wentz regained the starting quarterback job in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns but threw three interceptions in a 24-10 loss. He was subsequently benched once again for the final game of the season.

Carson Wentz Has Struggled in Recent Years

Despite the poor showing with the Commanders in 2022, Wentz has put together productive seasons in the past. When he was still with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, he threw for 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions and finished third in MVP voting for the season. He may have even won the award if it weren’t for him tearing his ACL in a Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

However, he hasn’t been able to recapture the magic of that season. The Eagles eventually soured on the No. 2 pick from the 2016 NFL Draft class. In 2018, he was still top-10 in pass rating (102.2) and was 13th (92.1) in 2019. Things really started to get off the track in 2020. The Eagles went 3-8-1 with Wentz as the starter and he was benched for Jalen Hurts. Even though he only played in 12 games that season, he was tied with former Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock for the league lead in interceptions with 15.

Following the season, Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick. He lasted one season with the team after missing the playoffs and was traded to the Commanders during the 2022 offseason.

Can Jon Gruden Help Carson Wentz?

Jon Gruden has been considered a quarterback guru since he helped turn Rich Gannon from an NFL journeyman to a Pro Bowler when they were both with the Raiders from 1999 to 2001. This led to him starting the ESPN show “Gruden’s QB Camp” in 2010 where he would where he would work with young quarterbacks who were coming into the NFL.

Though Gruden could only muster a 22-31 record during his second stint as head coach of the Raiders from 2018 to 2022, he has remained a respected mind when it comes to quarterbacks. Derek Carr recently said during his June 6 media availability for the Saints that he played his best football when Gruden was coaching him. Wentz is coming off his worst season as a professional quarterback so going back to the basics with the veteran coach could be what he needs to return to playing good football.

The NFL All-Pro list is the definitive measure of a player’s stature as the elite of the elite at his position, and the honor that garners the most respect when it comes to defining legacies.

Early summer is a time when hope springs eternal for NFL teams, and players, alike, as minicamps wind down and the grind of training camp and the upcoming season await with much optimism and promise. It’s also the perfect time to project out which players will shine the brightest in the fall.

Projecting which players will wind up as a First-Team All-Pro can be a daunting task, but easy all at once, by simply placing the name of the best player at his position the prior season into your projected list for the next one.

But, in order to make things a bit more interesting, to shine the spotlight a little brighter on some of the stars of the game that are knocking on the doorstep of reaching “elite’ status, we opted instead to make the list of players most likely to become a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time.

Here are our selections:

QB: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts very nearly stole the MVP and a first-team All-Pro slot from Patrick Mahomes last season, but the stage seems set for the 24-year-old to make another significant stride in his development. Given that this will be Hurts’ second season throwing to dynamic receiver A.J. Brown, as well as DeVonta Smith’s third NFL season (when receivers typically begin to peak), all of the pieces are in place for Hurts to take his game and the Eagles’ outlook to new heights.

RB: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Chubb was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2022, and he’s one of the most feared backs in the game. The combination of the Browns‘ run-based scheme, an offensive line that can make a strong claim as one of the two best in the league, and Chubb’s ferocious running style give the 27-year-old a great chance to make the varsity squad in 2023.

RB: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Running back might be the easiest position to make the leap to first-team All-Pro as a rookie. Especially when a rookie running back can expect the kind of workload Robinson can in Atlanta, combined with his explosiveness as a runner and versatility as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. If Robinson’s 104 forced missed tackles and 1,o71 yards after contact from last season at the University of Texas translate to the NFL, look out.

WR: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Not only was A.J. Brown a touchdown-maker, catching a career-high 11 in his first season in Philadelphia, he was a monster averaging 6.4 Yards After the Catch per Reception. If that was Brown’s introduction to the Eagles‘ offense, imagine how much more prolific he’ll be in a second season as Hurts’ favorite target.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2021, but each year the dynamic receiver’s chemistry seems to strengthen with quarterback Joe Burrow. Injuries limited Chase to just 12 games last season, yet he still produced 1,046 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. Given that Chase averaged 4.8 Yards after The Catch per Reception, just imagine how productive he’ll be if he can stay on the field for the entire 2023 campaign.

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

One might think that the addition of a speedster like Tyreek Hill on the other side might limit the production of a player like Waddle, but that’s not exactly how 2022 played out. Sure, Waddle only caught 75 passes (down from 104 in 2022), but his yards per catch average nearly doubled to an eye-popping 18.1. Waddle’s speed gives him the ability to take the top off a defense. Playing opposite Hill creates space. Don’t be surprised if Waddle finds a way to build on last season’s 1,356-yard and 8-touchdown outburst.

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Hockenson was an absolute revelation to the Vikings‘ offense, after arriving in a midseason trade. The 25-year-old caught 60 passes for 519 yards with 3 touchdowns during the final 10 games of the season. With Justin Jefferson flying down the perimeter, expect there to be plenty of room for Hockenson to operate underneath, and plenty of check down targets from Kirk Cousins for him to rack up yards and touchdowns this season.

LT: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants

Andrew Thomas is one of the ascending stars along the offensive line, and the trajectory of his career has been ticking upward the past two seasons, in a big way. A Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, Thomas only allowed three sacks and continued to emerge as a stalwart along the Giants’ offensive line.

RT: Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons

McGary is a dominant presence along the line of scrimmage, and one of the Falcons’ building blocks on offense. Last season, McGary was Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 highest-rated offensive tackle, with an 86.6 overall grade. The addition of Robinson in the backfield will give McGary even more opportunities to showcase his ability as a lead-blocker in the running game, where he posted the highest run-blocking grade of anyone not named Trent Williams, at 91.6.

LG: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Thuney has been a stalwart of consistency throughout his career, and he has elevated his game to new heights since arriving in Kansas City in 2021. Last season, Thuney was instrumental in keeping Mahomes upright, allowing only one sack and 15 total pressures. That kind of consistency up front makes it easy for a freelancer like Mahomes to create big-play opportunities.

RG: Teven Jenkins, Chicago Bears

Teven Jenkins is a road grader up front in the running game, a tactician in pass protection, and one of the anchors of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line. Last season, Jenkins only allowed 2.0 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures. He’s already on the cusp of breaking through as an All-Pro, and if the Bears’ offense makes major strides, this could be his season to crack the list.

C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Creed Humphrey is the most consistently dominant young center in this league. Full stop. Humphrey is a complete mauler as a run-blocker, producing an elite 91.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and a stonewall in pass protection, where he didn’t allow a single sack last season, with just one surrendered through the first two seasons of his career. Maybe more impressive than the fact that Humphrey allowed just 21, quarterback hits is that he was flagged for only 4 penalties in 1,138 snaps in 2022. Humphrey is an ascending talent and perhaps next in line to be a permanent All-Pro fixture.

EDGE: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

There are few pass-rushers who strike as much fear in opposing offensive tackles as Maxx Crosby does when he’s flying off the edge. It is almost unfair that a player has that much burst and that much speed, flying off the corner. Beyond freakish athleticism, Crosby’s productivity speaks for itself; 15.0 sacks, 81 total pressures, 4 forced fumbles, and 70 tackles in 2022 as the centerpiece of the Raiders‘ defense. Given the exotic blitz packages defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is accustomed to drawing up, don’t be surprised if even those numbers from Crosby take a big jump in 2023.

EDGE: Montez Sweat, Washington Commanders

Montez Swat is borderline unblockable off the edge, where he produced 8.0 sacks and 63 total pressures as the centerpiece of the Commanders’ front-seven in 2022. What makes Sweat special is that he’s one of the more dominant run-stopping edge players in the game, on top of being a game-wrecker when rushing the passer. Sweat is one of the more complete players at his position, and if he continues his upward trajectory, could find himself on All-Pro lists this season.

DL: D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals

Injuries limited D.J. Reader’s production last season, he missed six games due to a knee injury while finishing with 27 tackles and 1.0 sack, but don’t let those numbers fool you into thinking this isn’t one of the top players at his position. Reader is a matchup nightmare, a dominant interior pass-rusher, and as steady as they come against the run. If Reader can stay on the field all season, 2023 could be the year he solidifies his place among the elite of the position.

DL: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Few humans walking the earth can move with the speed and burst that Dexter Lawrence shows on each snap, at a mammoth 6-foot-4 and 342 pounds. Not only does Lawrence take up boatloads of space against the run, but his 9.0 sacks and 63 total pressures are absolute game-wreckers up the middle for opposing quarterbacks. Lawrence was a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, and playing another season in coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s scheme should create even more opportunities for Lawrence to destroy things up the middle. If he does, well, etch his name on the First-Team list this season.

LB: Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears

Edmunds arrives in Chicago coming off the most dominant season of his prolific career. Once again surpassing 100 total tackles, Edmunds produced a team-high 101, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 87.1. All that, only to leave Buffalo without a contract extension. Given Edmunds’ productivity, his talent, and the added motivation that comes with being spurned by your former team, expect big things from the centerpiece of the Bears’ revamped defense in 2023.

LB: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd didn’t waste any time throwing his weight around, as a rookie in the Jaguars’ linebacker corps last season. The Utah alum’s three interceptions led all linebackers, and he was consistently around the football, carding 110 total tackles. If Lloyd builds on his stellar rookie season, don’t be surprised to find him on this list by year’s end.

LB: Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers

A strong case can be made that each member of the 49ers’ front-seven could wind up an All-Pro, but Greenlaw should benefit more than most from Javon Hargrave’s arrival. Last season Greenlaw had 127 tackles and was just a brick wall against the run. Expect that to continue in 2023.

CB: Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the most talented defenses in the league, and the best defensive back on the roster might be Charvarius Ward, who is criminally underrated outside the Bay Area. Opposing quarterbacks managed only an 88.2 passer rating when targeting Ward last season, and receivers had little room to operate, averaging just 11 yards per catch. Given the combination of the 49ers’ ferocious front-seven and Ward’s prowess in man coverage, the stage could be set for the 27-year-old to have a career year in 2023.

CB: Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

Entering his third season, Samuel Jr. hasn’t just already proven himself to be a legitimate ballhawk, but he continues to get better. Quarterbacks rarely targeted Samuel Jr. last season, and when they did, they managed a meager 97.6 passer rating on those throws. Samuel Jr. already etched his name in the record books, becoming the first player to pull down three interceptions in his playoff debut. If Samuel builds on a stellar finish to 2022, there’s a good chance he finishes 2023 as an All-Pro.

S: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Hamilton is as versatile as they come at safety, and aims to build on a prolific rookie season, that was capped by him leading the Ravens’ defense with 9.0 tackles in a Wild Card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only does Hamilton thrive in coverage, where he played both deep safety and in the slot while holding opposing receivers to only 9.9 Yards per Reception, but he’s a real weapon up near the line of scrimmage. Hamilton’s 2.0 sacks and 20 run-stops underscore his value at all levels of the Ravens’ defense.

S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winfield Jr. is an ascending talent at the safety position, who could see more opportunities to create turnovers as head coach Todd Bowles dials up the pressure via the blitz this season. Moving to free safety this season could create more opportunities for Winfield to flash in coverage, where he held opposing receivers to just 10.5 Yards per Reception in 2022. If the Buccaneers’ defense bounces back, and Winfield plays a starring role, don’t be surprised when he winds up being an impact player this season.

The Las Vegas Raiders decided to go on a spending spree last offseason when they signed defensive end Chandler Jones to a three-year contract worth $51 million. The former Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler was 32 at the time but was coming off a season where he had 10.5 sacks. Considering he was coached by Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when he was the defensive line coach of the New England Patriots from 2012 to 2013, Jones was a logical fit with the team.

However, his debut season with the Raiders had ups and downs. Through his first 11 games in Las Vegas, Jones mustered 0.5 sacks. He picked up the pace for the next four games and had 4.0 sacks before an elbow injury in the Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers ended his season early.

Jones showed signs of improvement prior to the elbow injury, but there is still skepticism regarding the contract the Raiders have him on. In a column written for Bleacher Report on June 13 about the worst contracts in the NFL, Alex Kay listed Jones as having the third-worst.

“Despite playing with one of the league’s top up-and-coming edge rushers in Maxx Crosby, Jones’ inaugural season in Vegas went poorly. He finished with a meager 4.5 sacks in 15 contests while earning a pedestrian 63.8 PFF grade for his efforts,” Kay wrote.

“Jones is heading into his age 33 season with little upside and reason to believe he’ll bounce back from that showing. The Raiders used the No. 7 overall pick on an elite pass-rushing prospect in Tyree Wilson and could elect to phase the aging veteran out of their defensive plans if his skills continue to decline. Vegas won’t be able to completely rid itself of Jones until 2024, however, when his dead cap hit will drop to $12.3 million in comparison to his $17 million salary.”

What the Rest of Chandler Jones’ Contract Looks Like

The Raiders used the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on defensive end Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech. He will be the future defensive end that they pair with Maxx Crosby. For now, it would be quite difficult to get out of Jones’ contract. According to Spotrac, cutting the four-time Pro Bowler would lead to a $25.6 million dead cap hit.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal predicted in a tweet sent on February 20 that Jones will likely be gone after this season. Next year, he will have a dead cap hit of $12.27 million if he is released, which is a more manageable number if the Raiders hope to open up more salary cap space.

Chandler Jones Reveals He Has Dropped Weight

As previously noted, Jones was starting to come on toward the end of the 2022 season. The elbow injury was a setback but it led to some significant weight loss for the veteran. According to a June 14 report from The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur, Jones is down from 260 pounds to 250 pounds.

He has previously spoken about his weight loss but didn’t give specifics.

“I’m a little lighter this year,” Jones said during his June 1 media availability. “I feel a little faster, a little bit stronger, but I’m just trying to perfect my craft.”

250 pounds isn’t too light for a pass rusher. Maxx Crosby is 256 pounds and Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt is 252 pounds.

From the outside looking in, cornerback was arguably the Las Vegas Raiders‘ biggest need heading into the offseason. The team decided against adding a big name in free agency and could’ve selected Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez in the draft but decided to take defensive end Tyree Wilson instead. Due to the lack of moves, there has been major concern surrounding the team’s current crop of cornerbacks.

Luckily, the Raiders may not be done adding to the roster yet. The team recently brought in former Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters for a visit. He left Las Vegas without a deal, but that wasn’t due to a lack of mutual interest. Peters is still testing the market to see what kind of contract he can get, but according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed, it’s likely that the two sides reach an agreement soon.

“[Tyler Hall and Jakorian Bennett] may be competing for one starting job, as the Raiders seem likely to sign veteran cornerback Marcus Peters before training camp,” Tafur and Reed wrote. “Peters came in for a visit last month and, according to league and team sources, the two sides have stayed in touch as Peters tests the market. The Raiders have other veteran cornerbacks on their list, but Peters could very likely sign with the team that he grew up rooting for as a kid in Oakland.”

Peters to Raiders Is a Long Time Coming

Though the Raiders are no longer in Oakland, Peters remains destined to wear silver and black before he retires. He grew up in Oakland and was a big fan of the team as a kid. He was drafted by the team’s archrival Kanas City Chiefs when he first came into the NFL but could have a chance to make it up to his hometown team.

Peters is coming off of a couple of down years due to injury. He missed the entirety of the 2021 season with a torn ACL and was clearly working his way back to full strength last season. Peters was once one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL but just turned 30.

Does Peters Still Have Some Juice Left?

Peters is still as fiery as ever. His personality is part of what always made him a great fit with the Raiders. He’ll get in anybody’s face, including coaches. Las Vegas needs more players like that. There are a lot of leaders on the Raiders who like to lead by example. Those types of players are great to have but sometimes teams need a guy who can shake things up. Peters is that type of guy.

It remains to be seen if he can still be a great cover corner. The Baltimore Ravens switched defensive coordinators last season and Peters wasn’t a great fit. He’s a much better fit in Patrick Graham’s defense that features a lot of man coverage. With the Raiders’ current roster, Peters would likely be their best cornerback if he was signed. There are young players who could take leaps this year but nobody has proven themself the way Peters has. Considering the Raiders’ need at the position, they should do what they can to lock the former Defensive Rookie of the Year up.

After having the same starting quarterback for nine years with Derek Carr, the future of the position for the Las Vegas Raiders is unclear. Jimmy Garoppolo was signed this offseason but he’s already hurt and it’s easy for the team to get out of his contract. While he’s a solid starting quarterback, he’s certainly not the long-term answer for the team.

In fact, he might not even get a chance to stick around for very long. There’s been speculation that he could get cut before ever playing a snap for the team. That still seems like a long shot but Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report is predicting that he’ll play this season but won’t be back for 2024:

And when Garoppolo is on the field, he isn’t going to carry the team like an elite franchise QB can. He played well with the 49ers but was never asked to do too much. While Las Vegas’ defense should show some improvement this year, it isn’t the top-tier unit he enjoyed in San Francisco.

Garoppolo is a placeholder, and the 2023 season will leave the Raiders looking for a more permanent solution next offseason. If that turns out to be a rookie, the veteran may stick around for one more season—but it’s worth noting Las Vegas can release him next year and save $13 million off the 2024 cap.

How Jimmy Garoppolo Can Last With Raiders

Head coach Josh McDaniels doesn’t need a physical phenom at quarterback. He has proven he can win with athletically limited quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Mac Jones. What’s going above the shoulders is much more important to McDaniels. Garoppolo is a smart quarterback and doesn’t make a ton of mistakes. If it weren’t for his injury issues, he may be perfect for what the coach wants.

If Garoppolo is going to have any chance of sticking with the Raiders longer than a year or two, he has to stay healthy. That’s something he has only been able to do for one season since he became a starter. At 31, it’s hard to imagine his body will get more durable. If it does, he’ll have a chance to last with the Raiders. There are enough weapons on the team’s offense to win some games but it will come down to whether or not Garoppolo’s body holds up.

What’s the Raiders’ Plan at QB?

The Raiders don’t appear to have a plan at quarterback for the future. The team was clearly considering taking one in the first round of the draft as they reached out to the Chicago Bears about trading for the No. 1 pick. They would’ve likely used that pick on Bryce Young or another top quarterback.

The Raiders are high on rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell but it’s far too early to know if he’ll be good enough to take snaps at the NFL level. If this season goes off the rails and the team ends up with another top-10 pick, drafting a quarterback will be on the board. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the AFC is loaded with elite quarterback talent. If they hope to realistically compete, they will need a quarterback with more upside than Garoppolo or O’Connell.

The Las Vegas Raiders could be heading toward a battle with running back Josh Jacobs. After leading the NFL in rushing yards last season, the team decided to place the franchise tag on the Pro Bowler. The two sides have not agreed on a long-term deal yet and it appears that Jacobs is ready to hold out.

The running back has not signed his franchise tag tender and is missing organized team activities. He’s not allowed to practice until he signs the tender but it’s looking unlikely he’ll do that. The running game is very important in Josh McDaniels‘ offense so having a good running back goes a long way. If the Raiders don’t want to pay Jacobs, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pitched a scenario where the team rescinds the franchise tag and decides to go after former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook:

Under the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Raiders used the franchise tag to keep running back Josh Jacobs in place for at least another season, at $10.1 million. The Raiders also could, under those same rules, rescind the franchise tag.

Would they? If Jacobs won’t accept their best offer on a long-term deal (the deadline for finalizing a multi-year contract is July 17), it would make sense to consider their options. And they could, in theory, pursue Dalvin Cook as a potential replacement for Jacobs.

Cook Looking for a Solid Payday

Cook is a very good running back and still has gas left in the tank. The Vikings cut him because they wanted to use their money in other ways after giving him a $63 million contract in 2020. Though he’s now a free agent again, he’s still looking to get paid. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Cook isn’t going to a team on a discount.

“Dalvin Cook is not looking to sign a $4-5 million contract, that is not going to happen,” Pelissero said on the “Rich Eisen Show,” via BroBible. “This is going to be a significant contract.”

Cook is only 27 and has rushed for over 1,100 yards in four straight seasons. Running backs aren’t getting paid a ton right now so he shouldn’t be expecting what he previously got with the Vikings.

Replacing Cook With Jacobs Makes No Sense

Cook is one of the better running backs in the NFL and should have some suitors. The Raiders won’t be one of them. As Pelissero noted, he is looking to get paid. Why would the Raiders pay Cook when they can just pay Jacobs? Jacobs was better than Cook last season and is younger. If the team is going to pay for a running back, it should be the one who is already tied to them.

Now, Jacobs is probably looking for more than what Cook is right now. That shouldn’t matter to the Raiders unless the difference in asking prices is large. The team has Zamir White waiting in the wings to take over for Jacobs if he doesn’t play on the franchise tag and come to a long-term deal. Jacobs is the only running back they should be considering giving big money to.

Despite paying Jimmy Garoppolo a hefty sum this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders continue to be involved in quarterback rumors. Garoppolo is injured right now and not participating in organized team activities. The team has a clause in his contract that would allow them to cut him if he’s unable to pass a physical.

The Raiders believe he’ll be fine in time for training camp but setbacks happen all the time. There’s still a possibility that he’ll never play a snap for the team. If that happens, Las Vegas could have a problem on its hands. They didn’t add any other notable quarterbacks this offseason. A team led by Brian Hoyer or a rookie isn’t going to win many games.

Defensive end Maxx Crosby has cemented himself as one of the best players in the NFL in recent years. He isn’t looking to tank. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady plans to join Raiders ownership and despite speculation he’ll play for the team, he has insisted that he is retired for good. Crosby isn’t buying it. He could still see a scenario where Brady plays for the Raiders.

“Obviously, we’ve got Jimmy G,” Crosby said on “The Voncast.” “He’s coming back, he’s gonna be healthy. But you never know what’s gonna happen. Tom Brady is a competitor. … At the absolute worst, if everything doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to and we need him, I would not be surprised if Tom Brady shows up in a Raiders jersey.”

Is Brady Actually Done?

Brady keeps insisting that he’s done. A big reason why people think he might have another year left in the tank is the fact that he’s not starting his job as an analyst for Fox Sports until next year. He doesn’t have any commitments that would stop him from playing this season.

Brady does seem serious about retirement this time. He doesn’t want to get into an endless cycle of retiring only to unretire. He’s on track to be a part owner of the Raiders so he’ll be able to stay involved in football. While it’s impossible to know for sure with Brady, it does seem likely that he is telling the truth when he says he’s retired.

How to Convince Brady to Join Raiders

If Brady is going to play one more season, the Raiders are the logical landing spot. He doesn’t need to learn the offense because he helped develop it with Josh McDaniels when they were both in New England. There wouldn’t be much of a learning curve for him to get back into things.

The Raiders have questions on defense but the offense should be good. Josh Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards last season and Davante Adams was First-Team All-Pro at wide receiver. Plus, he’d be able to reunite with old teammate Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders have the tools to field an excellent offense if they have the right quarterback. If Garoppolo isn’t able to play, the team won’t have a lot of options at quarterback. It’s easy to see them try to convince Brady to make one last run. That would certainly make the Raiders one of the most interesting teams in the league next season.

Running backs haven’t been getting the best contracts in recent years. Even when they get a good contract, they rarely finish as Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott both got cut this offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders would like to retain Jacobs. He led the NFL in rushing yards last season and has said he’d like to stay with the team. However, he could be preparing to make a stand.

He has until July 17 before he’s officially holding out but he hasn’t shown interest in signing his franchise tag tender that would allow him to sign a long-term deal. Jacobs may be worried about more than just himself. He posted a cryptic message on Twitter amid rumors of a possible holdout.

“Sometimes it’s not about you. We gotta do it for the ones after us,” Jacobs tweeted.

What Does Jacobs Mean by This?

In a previous tweet, Jacobs suggested that running backs may be the most disrespected position group. He clearly isn’t a fan of how top running backs frequently get hit with the franchise tag before they get to free agency and have a difficult time securing long-term deals. Jacobs may look at himself as a possible fighter for future running backs. It’s certainly an admirable sentiment but he’s fighting a losing battle.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell held out for an entire season and never was able to return to form. He did get a contract but didn’t get the chance to finish it. The same thing happened to Elliott. Jacobs may want to martyr himself but it has fallen out of fashion to pay running backs. The best teams aren’t giving big contracts to running backs. Jacobs certainly deserves to be rewarded for an excellent season but a prolonged holdout won’t be good for the team or him.

Will Jacobs Play for Raiders This Season?

The Raiders like Jacobs a lot. He’s a leader and one of their best players. Losing him would be a serious blow to the locker room and the offense. However, general manager Dave Ziegler comes from the New England Patriots. That is a franchise that has never paid running backs during the Bill Belichick regime. Ziegler may not be keen on going against the grain and giving Jacobs a massive contract.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Jacobs is willing to sit out the whole season and lose out on a bunch of money. The likely outcome is that he eventually signs the franchise tag tender and plays out the season. It’s not ideal for him but it could be his only option. Now, if he’s a good soldier and plays well on the tag only for the Raiders to tag him again next year, then things will get ugly.

There aren’t a ton of great options in free agency but perhaps the Raiders could look to see who is available in a trade. Heavy Sports’ Matt Lombardo spoke to an NFL offensive coach who believes Las Vegas should hit up the San Francisco 49ers about a possible Sam Darnold Trade.

“I’d trade for Sam Darnold today,” the coach told Lombardo. “They have big issues out there, because they don’t have money to make a big trade. Especially when you’re talking about a quarterback.”

There has been talk about Darnold starting over Trey Lance until Brock Purdy gets healthy. Purdy got injured in the NFC Championship Game and it was thought he might miss time during the 2023 season. He may have a chance to start Week 1 as his recovery is going well. If that’s the case, the 49ers could rather keep Lance as the backup over Darnold thanks to his familiarity with the system and dual-threat ability. That would open the door for the Raiders to get Darnold at a cheap price. It shouldn’t take more than a sixth-round pick to get the former No. 3 pick in a trade.

Darnold Has yet to Play in Solid Offensive System

Darnold would be very fortunate to get some snaps as the 49ers’ starting quarterback this season. He has never been able to play with a great offense before. Kyle Shanahan is a top-five offensive coach in the NFL and San Francisco is stacked with great pieces on offense. If he even gets the chance to play in a few games, that could seriously help his stock.

There was a reason Darnold was the No. 3 pick in 2018 coming out of USC but he played for the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Both of those teams have been a mess for years. The 49ers have one of the most stable situations in the league so it’s a good landing spot for him. However, if Purdy is back, it’s possible Darnold never sees the field in San Francisco.

Are Raiders a Good Fit for Darnold?

It’s still questionable if Josh McDaniels has what it takes to be a good head coach but he has proven many times that he’s one of the top offensive minds in the NFL. Darnold coming to Las Vegas isn’t as good of a landing spot as San Francisco but it’s certainly better than New York and Carolina. He’d be able to play with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Jakobi Meyers and Josh Jacobs. That would be the best group of playmakers he’s ever been able to play with.

Now, the Raiders might have concerns with Darnold. He hasn’t played well throughout his career. McDaniels would really have to work with him to see if there’s still potential there. If all they have to do is risk a sixth-round pick, it could be worth a shot if Garoppolo isn’t healthy enough to play.

The Las Vegas Raiders are playing a dangerous game with Jimmy Garoppolo. The team signed the injury-prone quarterback despite knowing he needed foot surgery. They did protect themselves by putting a clause in his contract that would allow them to cut him without any penalty if he can’t pass a physical.

The Raiders are confident that he’ll be fine but Garoppolo has an extensive injury history and relying on him to make a quick recovery is highly risky. Brian Hoyer is taking first-team reps in practice but the 37-year-old is not a starting quarterback in the NFL. In the event that Garoppolo can’t play, the Raiders will need to add another quarterback. At this point, there aren’t a lot of great options available in free agency.

With options limited, the team may get desperate. Perhaps the biggest name left on the market is former Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz. While he comes with some package, ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez doesn’t think the Raiders can do better in free agency.

“If the Raiders have to look elsewhere, free agent Carson Wentz would seem to be the best option,” Gutierrez wrote. “Raiders pass game coordinator Scott Turner has experience with Wentz as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator last season, for what it’s worth.”

Wentz Has Had a Major Fall From Grace

It has been a downward spiral for Wentz ever since he signed a $128 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. He may have won the MVP and a Super Bowl in 2017 had he not gotten injured but he hasn’t been the same since. Wentz is a wildly inconsistent player. He’ll have some very high highs but they’ll be followed by low lows.

He does have talent and can still be an effective quarterback in the right system. However, he has been a bad personality fit on every team he has gone to. He hasn’t had legal issues or major off-the-field concerns but his personality has rubbed people the wrong way. At this point, he has been let go by three different teams, which is quite telling.

Should Raiders Give Wentz a Chance?

In the event that Garoppolo isn’t able to play, the Raiders won’t have a ton of options. They can just roll with Hoyer and tank for a good draft pick. They could also start rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and see what he can do. That could go very poorly

Wentz can be a headache but he still has upside. Putting him in an offense with Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow could be what he needs. His highs have been higher than Garoppolo’s. Now, it would certainly be a risk adding him. He’s folded under pressure before and can get really sloppy with his play. Regardless, the Raiders aren’t winning the Super Bowl this season so now is the time to take chances. Rolling with Hoyer doesn’t make a lot of sense unless the team is looking to tank. He’s a respected veteran but hasn’t won a start since 2016. If the idea is to compete in 2023 but Garoppolo isn’t healthy, the Raiders will have to do something.

ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez recently floated the idea that there’s a chance the quarterback never actually takes a snap for the team. The Raiders can cut him without penalty if he’s not able to pass a physical prior to the season. If that were to happen, Brian Hoyer would likely be the team’s starting quarterback. Considering he hasn’t won a start since 2016, the Raiders could be in for a nightmare season.

However, that might not be the worst thing to happen to the team. Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd actually believes losing Garoppolo could be a blessing in disguise. The 2024 NFL Draft class will feature USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in years. Cowherd doesn’t believe the Raiders can realistically compete in the AFC without a special quarterback. Winning seven, eight or nine games won’t put the team in a position to draft him. With Hoyer at quarterback, Las Vegas would be lucky to win three or four games. Cowherd says that’s the best thing that could happen to the Raiders.

“The question becomes for the Raiders: Have they stumbled into quite possibly the greatest break in 25 years in Raiders history?” Cowherd asked.

Raiders Haven’t Caught Many Breaks

Every NFL team catches breaks. The Kansas City Chiefs were lucky that Patrick Mahomes fell to No. 10 in 2017, the Los Angeles Chargers were lucky that the Miami Dolphins picked Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert in 2020 and the Buffalo Bills were mocked by many when they took Josh Allen in 2018. Sometimes the best teams just get lucky.

The Raiders haven’t gotten lucky in a very long time. One of the NFL’s most iconic franchises hasn’t won a playoff game in over two decades. The one time they did have the No. 1 pick, they took JaMarcus Russell, who is considered one of the biggest draft busts in league history. At some point, the Raiders will get lucky and find the next franchise quarterback or franchise-changing player.

It Will Be Difficult for Raiders to Tank

Tanking is easier said than done. Players will never be on board with the idea, especially with so many under one-year contracts. It’s also not so easy to get coaches on board with the idea. Sure, getting Williams sounds great but there’s still no guarantee he’s going to be the next superstar quarterback. The Raiders once thought Russell was the next big thing.

At this point, the team might not have a choice. If Garoppolo can’t play, there aren’t many great quarterback options left. The team could add a solid veteran Teddy Bridgewater but that might be worse than tanking. The Raiders would be better off just sticking with Hoyer and seeing what happens. There is no doubt that three wins and a top-five pick is better than seven wins and a pick outside of the top 10.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to gush about Quez Watkins when asked to single out a star from OTAs. Then, as if the two had coordinated it, quarterback Jalen Hurts showed love for Watkins a few hours later.

But praise in early June doesn’t guarantee anything, and cynics might say it’s a ploy to raise the trade value of Watkins, who is a candidate to be traded, according to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin.

If the Eagles are looking to move Watkins, they could look to swap No. 3 receivers with Las Vegas, who could be looking to trade Hunter Renfrow, as some have intimated.

“If the Eagles want to upgrade at that wide receiver three position Renfrow could be an option,” said Chase Senior of Chat Sports, a sports video channel on YouTube. “He’s not the biggest dude in the world. He’s not the fastest guy in the National Football League at the wide receiver position. But he is a great route-runner. He is a technician with his footwork, and he’s very crafty with his ability to get open.”

However, the Raiders have received no trade offers for Renfrow, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. After a Pro Bowl season in 2022, when he caught 1,038 yards and 9 touchdowns, Renfrow appeared in only 10 games (starting one of them) and tallied only 330 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He will have a cap hit of $13 million season, the fifth highest on the Raiders.

In his story about post-draft trade candidates, Benjamin lists the “logical landing spots” for Watkins as the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.

Quez Watkins vs. Olamide Zaccheaus: Starting Slot WR

The starting slot receiver spot is one of the biggest battles expected at Eagles training camp. It could turn into an all-out war between Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheaus. Watkins is the incumbent starter who has been earning kudos so far this spring, while Zaccheaus continues to learn the playbook after inking a one-year contract. The whole receivers room is going to be very competitive, according to Sirianni.

“I think we have a really phenomenal room led by A.J. [Brown] and DeVonta [Smith], who have had great springs,” Sirianni said. “I’m excited about Quez [Watkins], I’m excited about OZ [Olamide Zaccheaus]. I’m just excited. Britain Covey has taken another step. We have some young guys in the fold that I really like.”

Hurts threw his hat in Watkins’ ring in the fight for WR3. They broke into the NFL together in 2020.

“We tore it up on the scout team our rookie year and I have all the trust in him,” Hurts said. “He’s hungry. And he’s used everything as fuel and I’m glad he’s taking that approach. I’m excited to see the show that he puts on this year.”

Eagles End OTAs, Report Back on July 24

The Eagles held their final practice of OTAs on June 8 as they go into hibernation for six weeks. It was an indoor session at the bubble due to air-quality concerns stemming from the Canadian wildfires. They’ll return to the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia the week of July 24 for the start of training camp.

The Las Vegas Raiders have almost unanimous attendance at mandatory organized team activities. It’s always a good sign when teams have most of their players at practice during the offseason but there’s one glaring absence. Star running back and the NFL”s leading rusher last season Josh Jacobs is the only player who isn’t at least in the building.

That is due to the fact that he has yet to sign his franchise tag tender. He’s actually not allowed to practice until he signs the tender so it’s not a major concern that he isn’t around quite yet. Jacobs has stayed relatively quiet in recent weeks but he knows his worth and wants to get paid.

Jacobs recently responded to a tweeted clip where former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall said that running back is the position that is the “most disrespected” in all of sports.

One fan replied that the focus should be on legacy more so than money. Jacobs replied that there needs to be a conversation about how running backs are disrespected but people are scared to discuss it.

Josh McDaniels Talks Jacobs

Jacobs is a perceptive player so he understands his situation. The Raiders would prefer not to have to pay him big money if they don’t have to. Just this offseason, Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott got let go by their teams before finishing out the big contracts they previously signed.

Jacobs has until July 17 to work out a long-term contract with the team and it’s looking like the two sides are still being patient. Head coach Josh McDaniels had a chance to talk about the current situation involving the running back.

“The deadline is not until July, so, again, I respect everything about that process. This is not the first time that that’s happened in terms of me being a part of that,” McDaniels said of Jacobs during his June 6 media availability.

“Love the kid, love the player, love the person, and look forward to when I see him.”

Other RBs Stepping up With Jacobs Out

Jacobs was the bell cow for the Raiders last season. He didn’t give other running backs much of an opportunity to take carries away from him. Now that he’s missing practice, 2022 draft picks Zamir White and Brittain Brown are getting a chance to show what they can do. Offensive guard Dylan Parham has been impressed with what he has seen.

“They’re definitely taking those opportunities to be able to get those reps and I think they’re trying to hone in on that,” Parham said during his June 7 media availability. “They’re working hard, obviously. A lot of good young guys. I feel like they’re taking those moments and opportunities and they’re doing really well with them.”

Based on how last offseason went, it didn’t seem like Jacobs had a future beyond 2022 in Las Vegas. He played so well that the Raiders couldn’t just let him walk away. That said, the team might not be too concerned if they can’t come to a deal, especially if White and Brown look good in practice. The plan should still be to sign Jacobs to a long-term deal but the team does have a backup plan in place.