HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders open the 2023 NFL regular season at the Denver Broncos on Sept. 10 at Empower Field at Mile High.
And when it comes to breaking down their roster in Year 2 of the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime, one thing is clear -- there is talent throughout. As in first-team All-Pros in receiver Davante Adams, running back Josh Jacobs and kicker Daniel Carlson, with defensive end Maxx Crosby and punter AJ Cole each having just appeared in their second straight Pro Bowl.
But there are still roster holes and questions for a team that finished just 6-11 in its first year under new management, a year after going 10-7 and appearing in the playoffs. Primarily with the Raiders moving on from nine-year starting quarterback Derek Carr to injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacobs and his franchise tag and the multiple trade rumors surrounding former Pro Bowl slot receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Here is the roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Aidan O'Connell
As the Raiders move on from Carr after nine star-crossed seasons, the key is Garoppolo's health. Recovering from March surgery on his left foot, Garoppolo was unable to participate in any on-the-field activities during the offseason program. Still, he impressed teammates with his leadership qualities in the classroom. That has to translate onto the field. Because if fifth-round pick O'Connell sees significant time, that means something went wrong.
RUNNING BACK (4): Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden, Zamir White
A happy and healthy Jacobs would be a bonus almost as big as the one he provided an unsuspecting McDaniels last season. What with McDaniels used to a running back-by-committee approach. Even if Jacobs sees his workload diminished, the positive is that Abdullah, Bolden and White are all returners who know the system. The negative? They combined for only 156 rushing yards on 38 carries last season.
FULLBACK (1): Jakob Johnson
The next carry the fifth-year veteran gets will be his ... (checks notes) first carry. Yeah, Johnson's responsibility is to clear holes for the tailback and to catch the occasional pass. He has 18 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown in his career. That job description will remain the same.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow, Tre Tucker, Phillip Dorsett
Even as Adams enters his first post-age 30 season, he remains arguably the best receiver in the game while Meyers is an upgrade as the No. 2 over the departed Mack Hollins. Renfrow is the intriguing piece, with so many trade rumors floating around him and the Raiders having seemingly drafted his slot man successor in Tucker while also signing Dorsett in free agency. The 6-foot-5 Cam Sims could profit if Renfrow is moved.
TIGHT END (3): Michael Mayer, Austin Hooper, O.J. Howard
Even if Mayer is not the second coming of Dave Casper, what with their shared Notre Dame and Raiders heritage, him falling to Las Vegas in the second round might prove to be the Raiders' most fortuitous "move" this offseason. Mayer has the makings of an immediate starter and with a remodeled TE room -- Darren Waller was traded to the New York Giants while Foster Moreau left in free agency -- he can lean on veteran free agents Hooper and Howard.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, Andre James, Alex Bars, Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker, Thayer Munford Jr., Justin Herron, Dalton Wagner
Eluemunor started 15 games at right tackle -- Munford started the other two -- and also started one game each at right guard and left tackle but the Raiders re-signed Parker, who was slated to start at RT before injuring his triceps in the preseason opener. Herron and Wagner could also get looks at right tackle, especially if Eluemunor has more value as a swing lineman. Parham showed he can play center, so versatility is key on this underrated line.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Maxx Crosby, Bilal Nichols, Jerry Tillery, Chandler Jones, Tyree Wilson, Neil Farrell Jr., Matthew Butler, Byron Young, Nesta Jade Silvera, Jordan Willis
Raiders owner Mark Davis called it "unfortunate" that Crosby was not named All-Pro after his brilliant season, one in which he had 12.5 of the Raiders' 27 total sacks. But, as Davis added, the Raiders have to win as a team for Crosby to get that individual accolade. Enter a rejuvenated Jones, whose play improved with the late-season arrival of Tillery, and No. 7 overall draft pick Wilson, whose right foot will be watched carefully after a March procedure. The Raiders have used four draft picks on DTs the past two years, so more push from the interior is needed ... and expected.
LINEBACKER (5): Divine Deablo, Robert Spillane, Amari Burney, Darien Butler, Luke Masterson
While Deablo wore the green dot communications helmet as the defensive playcaller in the offseason program, he is the coverage LB, while free agent signee Spillane is the run-stuffing thumper. Burney, a sixth-round pick, was the lone linebacker drafted by a team in desperate need of linebackers, even as Butler and Masterson flashed at times. Picking up another veteran late in camp is not out of the realm of possibility. The position is that thin.
CORNERBACK (6): Nate Hobbs, Amik Robertson, Jakorian Bennett, Brandon Facyson, Duke Shelley, David Long Jr.
Hobbs is the key here, as in, is he the nickel corner or is he on the outside? Plus, after missing six games last season, he has to stay healthy to line up with a steadily improving Robertson. The Raiders did use a fourth-round pick on Bennett and added Facyson, Shelley and Long in free agency but have also been linked to veteran free agent Marcus Peters, who would immediately upgrade a group still needing an upgrade, or two.
SAFETY (4): Tre'von Moehrig. Marcus Epps, Christopher Smith, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Epps brings a Super Bowl pedigree from Philadelphia while fifth-round pick Smith brings college championship experience from Georgia. Moehrig, meanwhile, was drafted in the second round two years ago in part due to his ballhawk skills. Yet, he has but one INT in 32 career games. That number has to improve. Going with Pola-Mao over versatile vet Jaquan Johnson might seem counter-intuitive, but the youngster flashed enough last season to get an extended look.
SPECIALISTS (3): Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
In perhaps the biggest-yet-most-underplayed head-scratching move of the offseason, the Raiders swapped out the heart of the specialists, signing Bobenmoyer to replace Trent Sieg at longsnapper ... even as Sieg was close friends with Carlson, an All-Pro last season, and Cole, an All-Pro in 2021. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?