The Las Vegas Raiders capped off the 2023 season on a high note with a 27-14 win over the Denver Broncos. The victory was a strong statement, necessary to seal the season. While there won’t be any playoffs this season, the future looks bright after Sunday. Still, there are many questions regarding many people within the organization. With that being said, let’s get into our final post-game reactions of the year.
Reaction No. 1: The Raiders Have A Lot To Build Upon
While this game may not have mattered much as far as this season goes, it certainly showed that the Raiders are on the right track heading into next year. Las Vegas’ win punctuated a season that, while disappointing, showed a lot of promise for the future.
The Raiders have young building blocks all over the place. Defensively, Malcolm Koonce has emerged as a great compliment to Maxx Crosby at the defensive end position. In the secondary, there is also an abundance of youth, as Marcus Epps is the oldest starter in that group at just 27. On the other side of the ball, the Raiders seem to have a great young core as well. Of today’s offensive starters, just two were over the age of 30. While they likely need to continue the search for a new quarterback and could use some help on the offensive line, Las Vegas looks set everywhere else.
With this win, the Raiders managed to go 3-1 in their final four games. That means something. The playoffs may not have been on the cards this year, but Las Vegas has a ton of positive momentum heading into the off-season. At the very least, this game affirmed that the Raiders are closer to contending than rebuilding.
Keeping that in mind…
Reaction No. 2: Las Vegas Shouldn’t Change Much This Offseason
The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Las Vegas seems to have a lot going on right now. This is not the time to make wholesale changes to the roster, coaching staff, or front office. However, the team should avoid making drastic moves. A few upgrades here and there could be all it takes to get this team to the next level.
Looking at the roster, the only major liability seems to be at quarterback. We have seen enough of Aidan O’Connell to feel certain that, while he is capable, he will likely never be a guy who can lead a team very far. Las Vegas should be trying to draft his eventual replacement. Other than that, they could use some fresh blood on the offensive line, but that’s about it. They should allocate most of the free agency budget to retaining their own impending free agents.
As far as the coaching staff goes, Antonio Pierce has already proven to be an excellent leader. Also, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and his assistants have done a phenomenal job. The Raiders should look to retain as much of that side of the coaching staff as possible. The one area where change could be necessary is the offensive coordinator. Bo Hardegree could continue to grow into the offensive coordinator role, but Las Vegas should at least explore their options.
Champ Kelly deserves a chance to show what he can do by making these decisions. He hasn’t had much of an opportunity to do anything since becoming the general manager right before the trade deadline, but he’s earned a chance to show what he can do. He already has a relationship with the players and coaches and a good feel for where this franchise is going. A new GM would likely want to bring in his own people, which would likely lead to more change than what the Raiders need at this juncture.
Speaking of decisions…
Reaction No. 3: The Raiders Have A Running Back Dilemma
A couple months ago, paying Josh Jacobs seemed like a no-brainer. However, a quad injury kept him on the sidelines for these last few games. During that stretch, second-year running back Zamir White has been impressive. That complicates things.
To be clear, Jacobs is still an elite back. That being said, White has averaged just under 100 yards rushing per game in his four starts. This is about math, not talent. White’s cap hit will be just over a million dollars next year. Securing Jacob’s services next year and beyond will likely cost at least ten times that. Yes, Jacobs is the better and more valuable player, but how much so?
As mentioned before, the Raiders have some work to do elsewhere on their roster. The surging defense is going to get more expensive. They may not be able to pay Jacobs and keep that group intact.
Yes, it would be a huge blow to see him go elsewhere but keeping him is far from an easy decision.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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