The 2020 Las Vegas Raiders are loaded with young talent, and we look at the ten-best players on the current roster, excluding rookies.
The Las Vegas Raiders put together quite an interesting offseason this year, and as the organization moves to a new city, the expectations are pretty high. The Raiders made plenty of free agent signings and added a slew of new talent in the draft, as they focused on getting better on both sides of the ball.
We take a look at the ten-best current Raiders, withholding rookies as they have yet to play a game at the NFL level.
10. Maurice Hurst, Defensive Tackle
This was a tough one here at No. 10 to kick off our rankings, as the spot easily could have went to Kolton Miller, the Raiders first round pick in 2018. However, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst has breakout potential all over him, and should only get better entering Year 3.
After a solid 2019 season which was on a shaky defense, the Raiders have improved the defensive line as a whole. This should certainly push Hurst to exceed expectations this season in 2020, as the addition of Maliek Collins next to him in the starting lineup will lead to a hike in tackles and sacks for Hurst.
Ranking the 10 best current Las Vegas Raiders players
9. Trayvon Mullen, Cornerback
Possibly the one bright spot in the Raiders 2019 secondary, rookie Trayvon Mullen had a very solid season at cornerback. The Raiders acquired a number of defensive backs via the 2020 NFL Draft, and free agency, as the team looked to revamp their secondary.
Nonetheless, the star of this secondary heading into 2020 is Mullen, as he has that uncanny ability to cover the top receiver on the other team. In a secondary with plenty of question marks in 2020, Mullen is not one of them.
8. Cory Littleton, Linebacker
Cory Littleton is widely considered to be the crown jewel of the Raiders 2019 free agency class. The Raiders, after years of tooling and re-tooling at linebacker have finally found their savior to lead the corps.
Littleton was an underrated core player on the Los Angeles Rams, and his ability to cover as well as provide pressure makes him an ideal hybrid linebacker. Expect to see Littleton on the field early and very often in 2020, and if he is as good as advertised, he improves the weakest position group on this roster heading into this offseason.
7. Richie Incognito, Offensive Guard
Whatever your opinion is on the controversial offensive guard, one thing is for sure, he’s very good at his job. The four-time Pro Bowl selection had another season to remember for the Raiders last year, and had he not been suspended for the first few games of the season, he easily would have added his fifth.
He will look to be one of the anchors once again on the offensive line, and if he wasn’t turning 37 this season, he would have been much higher on the list. The Raiders re-signed him to a two-year extension this offseason, and the hope is he can continue to be a solid player on the field, and continue to have no off-the-field issues in Vegas.
Ranking the 10 best current Las Vegas Raiders players
6. Maxx Crosby, Defensive End
The second-year defensive end was a story to remember for the Raiders last season. “Mad Maxx” was a little known prospect out of Eastern Michigan when the Raiders selected him last year with one of their fourth-round picks.
Overshadowing top draft choice Clelin Ferrell, he led the Raiders with ten sacks, a staggering number when you consider as a whole, the Raiders only totaled 13 the year before. Crosby could be one of the better defensive ends in the NFL this season, and could be much higher on this list by year’s end.
5. Derek Carr, Quarterback
This one was the toughest to call, as the “Captain” actually had a very solid season last year. Sure, there were some moments that could have been better, but the fact is, he finished only second to Drew Brees in completion percentage, and set a career-high in passing yards.
Entering Year 7 in the NFL, and his third in Jon Gruden’s system, Carr has the potential to have a breakout season in 2020. With a ton of new weapons around him, Carr has what he needs to explode in 2020, and the playoffs could be in the cards for Carr and the Silver and Black.
4. Trent Brown, Offensive Tackle
The massive contract handed to the massive offensive tackle ended up being worth it in 2019, as Trent Brown followed up a Super Bowl-winning season in New England to anchor the Raiders tackle spot. Brown was named to the Pro Bowl, and he and Kolton Miller formed bookends for Carr.
The 6-foot-8, 380lbs tackle provided a very steady and impressive blanket at right tackle, as he made the switch from the left side the year before. Entering his second season with the Raiders, Brown is arguably the best right tackle in the game, and should be headed towards another Pro Bowl.
Ranking the 10 best current Las Vegas Raiders players
3. Josh Jacobs, Running Back
The first pick made with one of the Khalil Mack acquired draft picks surely lived up to expectations, no scratch that, he exceeded them. The rookie running back out of Alabama became the first Raiders rookie to ever eclipse 1,000 yards rushing, which is impressive considering the long line of stellar Raiders backs.
He also led the league in missed tackles, and what is even more impressive is he missed three games due to injury. Expect Jacobs to thrive even more in his second season, especially considering the Raiders have mentioned getting him more involved in the passing game now that his fractured shoulder is healed.
Las Vegas added Lynn Bowden Jr. via the 2020 NFL Draft to take some of the pressure off of him, and they brought back Jalen Richard to back him up. Jacobs is the do-everything back that this franchise was missing, and in Year 2, expect him to have a chip on said shoulder after missing out on winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
Ranking the 10 best current Las Vegas Raiders players
2. Darren Waller, Tight End
Now here is a comeback story for the ages. The 27-year-old tight end was two years removed from a year long suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy when the Raiders took a chance on him. In his second season as a Raider, all he did was lead the team with 90 receptions and over 1,100 yards receiving, becoming one of the better pass-catching tight ends in football.
Waller was by far Derek Carr‘s most dependable and consistent receiver in a season where the wide receiver group battled injuries and inconsistent play. With more talent added this offseason at the wide receiver position, he will face less double teams, and with his blazing open field speed, will once again be nightmare for opposing defenses.
To say that Waller has been a God Send would be an understatement, as the Raiders tight end room is one of the more balanced, and versatile in football. This kid is just getting started, and as we have seen all over the NFL, having this kind of playmaking tight end can mean the difference between being a playoff team and not.
Ranking the 10 best current Las Vegas Raiders players
1. Rodney Hudson, Center
The three-time Pro Bowl center is not only the Raiders best player, but one of the most underrated players in the league. True, this could be due to the fact that center is not considered one of the fanciest positions league wide, but when it comes to a player being elite at what he does, Rodney Hudson fits that bill.
The dependable and soft spoken center has not allowed a sack since 2017, serving as a real anchor for this Raiders offensive line. If there is one man truly deserving of the No. 1 spot on our list, it is undoubtedly the best center in all of football, who will hopefully retire as a Raider, and one day take his rightful place in Canton.
The fact that this list was so hard to put together is a real testament to how well Mike Mayock and Gruden have revamped this roster in the last two years. The Raiders are going to be a playoff contender in 2020, and with the playoffs expanding to 14 teams, maybe this is the year Carr finally plays in a playoff game.