Five Las Vegas Raiders who are in make-or-break years
By Nick Ellis
Offense
Derek Carr, Quarterback
Everyone has a different perspective on how good Derek Carr is, but one thing that cannot be argued is that he is not winning games. Carr is a solid quarterback that has been dealt an unfair hand at times, with different offensive coordinators, a lack of weapons, and a couple injuries that held him back, but the time to win is now.
Whether you are a big Carr fan or not, it cannot be argued that this is likely a make-or-break year for him. It seems like Jon Gruden likes Carr a lot, despite what the national media says, but if the Raiders have another losing season, and Carr does not produce at a high level, it is likely that the Raiders will look elsewhere at quarterback.
Tyrell Williams, Wide Receiver
Tyrell Williams started off hot last season, but once the injury bug hit, his production dropped drastically. Williams was forced into the position of being the WR1 for the team last year, something that not only he, but the entire team did not expect, and he will get to move back to WR2 in 2020 with Henry Ruggs III coming in.
Williams recorded 651 yards and six touchdowns for the team in 2019, and although those are not bad numbers, they are not going to be enough for what he is getting paid. The Raiders have brought in multiple young receivers in the draft this year, along with Hunter Renfrow and Zay Jones last year, so the pressure is on Williams to perform in a big way in 2020.
Gabe Jackson, Guard
The majority of people believe that Gabe Jackson will not be a part of the Raiders this season, but he has not been dealt yet, and it seems like the coaching staff is fond of him from some interviews this off season. Like Carr, Jackson is a 2014 draft pick, and one of the veterans on this roster, but the team did bring in talented guard in the 2020 draft in John Simpson from Clemson.
If Jackson is healthy, he can play at an elite level. Unfortunately, Jackson has not been healthy as of late, did not play great when on the field last year, and his replacement played well in his place last season. It has been proven that Jackson can be replaced, and if it does not happen before the season, it could happen after if he does not produce.