Las Vegas is getting the Raiders at the perfect time

For the City of Las Vegas, there is no better time for them to be getting the Raiders franchise, as the roster continues to improve.

In his first season back with the Oakland Raiders, Jon Gruden’s team finished the 2018 year with a four-win season. Prior to the 2018 season, he traded away Khalil Mack for draft capital, and would go on to trade away wide receiver during the season for more of it. In all, he and his staff went into the 2019 NFL Draft with three first round picks.

In January of 2019, the Raiders brought in former analyst Mike Mayock to assume the general manager role, and he has proven to be more than up for the job. He has helped reshape this roster in every way, and as the team heads to their new digs in Las Vegas, the roster is in the best shape it has been in a long time.

Looking at the offensive side of the ball, Mayock hit a home run in the first round with running back Josh Jacobs,  the kind of do-everything back every contender needs. Their offensive line is stellar, boasting Pro Bowl talent across the board, and quarterback Derek Carr is coming off one of his better statistical seasons of his career.

While the offense needs help at wide receiver, they did get a good one in the draft in Hunter Renfrow, while tight end Darren Waller is one of the best in the game. Overall, this is an offense ready to explode, and if they can bring in the right talent on the outside this offseason, they should be able to dominate.

The defense does need some work heading to Vegas, but they have some young budding stars in Maurice Hurst, Maxx Crosby, Trayvon Mullen, and Johnathan Abram to name a few. They have their holes at linebacker, and in the secondary, but with five of the first 91 draft selections in 2020, and a  ton of draft capital, they have the assets they need to fill those voids this offseason.

Overall, this is a team that is on the rise in terms of the roster, as they have built up strong lines on both sides of the ball, and have very capable people at important spots. In addition, the combination of Gruden and Mayock appears to be a perfect match, meaning the duo should be able to make the right moves again this offseason.

In 2020, the Raiders will become the Las Vegas Raiders, and move into their state-of-the-art stadium. The City of Las Vegas has already adopted the team as their own, and for the City, they could not be getting the Raiders franchise at a better time.

The Raiders made a three-win improvement this past season, and you have to think they will get even better in 2020. They have the pieces in place to lay a solid foundation in Vegas for years to come, and with no state tax, you have to think this is going to be a haven for free agents in 2020 and beyond.