We’re up to the final team in the AFC West as we continue our previews of all 32 NFL teams, continuing with the Oakland Raiders, who finished in third place in the division last season.
After three seasons under head coach Jack Del Rio, who led them to a 12-4 record in 2016, the Raiders let him go and went into their past for his replacement, hiring Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden — who previously coached the team from 1998-2001 — to a 10-year contract despite him having been out of coaching since 2009. It looks like Gruden will be without the heart of his defense as the Raiders have reportedly agreed to trade star LB Khalil Mack, who has been holding out for a new contract, to the Bears for two first-round draft picks — and possibly more. The Raiders added to the offense this offseason, inking free-agent WR Jordy Nelson and RB Doug Martin to contracts, along with trading a third-round draft pick to the Steelers for WR Martavis Bryant. Among players the Raiders cut was WR Michael Crabtree.
The Raiders were 17th in the NFL with 5,185 yards last season, and their 301 points placed them 23rd in the league. QB Derek Carr threw for 3,496 yards and 22 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions in 15 games. TE Jared Cook recorded 54 receptions for 688 yards and two touchdowns and WR Amari Cooper had 48 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. Nelson played in 15 games for the Packers, catching 53 balls for 482 yards and six touchdowns. Veteran RB Marshawn Lynch led the running game in his first season with the team, carrying the ball 207 times for 891 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. Martin was limited to 11 games — eight starts — with the Buccaneers, recording 138 rushes for 406 yards and three scores. Defensively, the team ranked in the bottom half of the league in both yards and points allowed.
Gruden’s first game back on the sideline will get national attention as the Raiders host the Rams in the second game of the Week 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader. After that, the Raiders are on the road for two weeks, visiting the Broncos and Dolphins. They’re back at home in Week 4 to take on the Browns, then they visit the Chargers in Week 5. A Week 6 “home” game against the Seahawks in London is followed by the Raiders’ bye and a Week 8 game against the Colts at home. The Raiders don’t have to travel far in Week 9 when they visit the 49ers. They host the Chargers in Week 10, then travel to the Cardinals and Ravens in Weeks 11 and 12, respectively. They have home games in Weeks 13 and 14 against the Chiefs and Steelers and then visit the Bengals in Week 15. After that, the Raiders host the Broncos on Monday night in Week 16, and they end the season with a Week 17 road game against the Chiefs.
Losing Mack will have a big impact on how the Raiders do this season. He is the best player on their defense, which will take a massive hit. Getting a couple of first-round picks in return for Mack, though, sets the Raiders up nicely in the coming years if they can turn those picks into stars. On offense, it’s unknown what can be expected from Nelson. He’s 33 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons in his career, but he had backup QB Brett Hundley throwing him the ball for much of 2017 with Aaron Rodgers injured. Can he bounce back and get closer to the numbers he put up in his prime now that he’ll have a better quarterback in Carr throwing him the ball? That is yet to be seen. Overall, the Raiders should have a decent offense but the defense has its flaws. The Raiders should best last season’s 6-10 record, but they’re probably about a .500 team. If they can eke out nine or 10 wins, they could compete for a wild card in the AFC, but I don’t think they’ll win that many games.
Source: http;//www.raiders.com, http://www.pro-football-reference.com
Thoughts From Scott 