The Las Vegas Raiders have some work to do to win the AFC West in 2021, and here, we look at what an All-AFC West offense could look like this season.
The 2021 season is nearly officially underway as we wrap up the remaining days in July, with the Las Vegas Raiders kicking off training camp on July 27. We are finally getting a full-fledged preseason on top of training camp, as the NFL transitions back into a degree of normalcy.
The Raiders have plenty to look forward to in 2021 after a .500 season in 2020 that nearly resulted in their first playoff appearance since 2016. How the Raiders stack up on offense compared to the rest of the AFC West Division, is yet to be seen, however, but they do have some solid weapons.
With guys like Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller as key pieces for this offense, and the Raiders adding the likes of Kenyan Drake, John Brown, and Willie Snead, quarterback Derek Carr has no shortage of weapons. The rest of the AFC West is loaded with talent on that side of the ball as well, making it one of the more exciting divisions in football.
Here, we are going to make some predictions for the All-AFC West offense in 2021.
Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting the All-AFC West offense in 2021
Quarterback and Running Back
QB: Pat Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Derek Carr had a very solid and impressive season in 2020, but we have to use logic here, as this one is a no-brainer. Coming off a season in which Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to another Super Bowl appearance, the 25-year-old quarterback out of Texas Tech is the best signal-caller in football.
He threw for nearly 5,000 yards to go along with 38 touchdowns to six interceptions, and barring any sort of surprise Aaron Rodgers situation, Mahomes should have no competition here at the quarterback position in the division.
RB: Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
This was a tough call to make between Jacobs and Chiefs back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, especially when taking into consideration that the Raiders added running back Kenyan Drake in the offseason, which should take away plenty of snaps from Jacobs. Nevertheless, the third-year back should see a huge improvement over his somewhat disappointing sophomore season in 2020.
The Raiders had a batch of injuries on the offensive line in 2020, which led to the decrease in numbers for Jacobs. The Raiders did revamp their offensive line this offseason, and with a healthy line in front of him, expect Jacobs to get back to the numbers of his rookie season. Even with Drake in the fold, Jacobs is the bell cow back in Las Vegas and should see a major jump in his yards per carry in 2021.
Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting the All-AFC West offense in 2021
Wide Receivers and Tight End
WR: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
When discussing the explosiveness of Tyreek Hill, you can only shudder as a Raiders fan. In fact, the Raiders are hoping that their own rocket in a bottle in wide receiver Henry Ruggs can develop into the kind of player Hill is.
Hill matched his career-high in receptions last year with 87, to go along with over 1,200 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. The speedster has been a problem for not only the Raiders, but the league for more than a few seasons now, and you can expect this trend to continue as Pat Mahomes will continue to look the way of the three-time All-Pro.
WR: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen had a rough 2020 in terms of health as he spent a significant portion of the season injured. Despite missing some time and playing through quite a few game-time decisions, Allen still recorded 100 receptions and nearly 1,000 yards.
The veteran receiver should see a huge improvement upon these numbers if he stays healthy, and seems to have developed quite a rapport with second-year quarterback Justin Herbert. Allen could be the top-performing wide receiver in the division this year if healthy, and while that is a big if, the talented receiver always has the potential to have a spectacular season.
TE: Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
This one can come down to a coin flip with Waller and Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce. In fact, the debate for who is the best tight end in football can consist of these two special talents. In only his second full season with the Raiders, Waller exploded to the tune of a franchise-record 107 receptions to go along with nearly 1,200 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.
The converted wide receiver should even improve upon these numbers, as the Raiders are fronting a somewhat youthful receiving core this year. Expect Derek Carr to lean heavily on his talented tight end, who should be the leader among this group and have very high chances to surpass his special 2020 season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting the All-AFC West offense in 2021
Offensive Line
LT: Orlando Brown Jr, Kansas City Chiefs
The Raiders were until recently knocking on the door here with Kolton Miller, but then Orlando BrownJr. appeared. The Kansas City Chiefs traded for the disgruntled former Baltimore Ravens star this offseason, who, at 25-years-old is already a two-time pro bowler. Protecting the blind side of Pat Mahomes is probably one of the most vital in football, and Brown is certainly up to the task.
Kolton Miller should improve significantly this season for the Raiders coming off a newly-minted extension, but he, unfortunately, is not in the same league currently as Brown Jr.
LG: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Well, here we are in familiar territory once again with another Chiefs player, but it is deserved. The division is rather weak at this position when looking at the Denver Broncos, Raiders (Richie Incognito is a question mark), and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs struggled with health on their offensive line in 2020, which was apparent in their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs added Thuney this offseason in a lucrative deal that saw the former Pro Bowl guard leave the New England Patriots after five seasons.
Entering his prime at the age of 28, Thuney should improve the Chiefs line significantly, and could be in store for another pro bowl season.
C: Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers
It is not too often a team can add an All-Pro player in the offseason, but this is what the Chargers achieved in signing Corey Linsley from the Green Bay Packers. The Chargers added the 2020 All-Pro in a deal that made him the highest-paid center in the league, and it is a win-win for Linsley and the Chargers, who have had more than a few bad years of inconsistent offensive line play.
With the departure of long-time Raider Rodney Hudson this offseason, the battle for Linsley to be crowned the best center in the division was an easy one.
RG: Graham Glasgow, Denver Broncos
The pick here was a tough one, as Denzelle Good of the Raiders could be in store for another big season with higher expectations placed on his shoulders this season, or veteran Kyle Long for the Chiefs could bounce back from not only being away from the sport for a season but also his recent injury.
We will go with the safer pick here in Graham Glasgow. After signing a lucrative deal with the Broncos in 2020, he had a solid if not unspectacular first season in Denver which resulted in a stint on the Covid-19 list. With a full bill of health, Glasgow should bounce back in Denver and repay the Broncos heavily on their investment.
RT: Bryan Bulaga, Los Angeles Chargers
If any position on this list should come with an asterisk, it should be this one. Bulaga had a disappointing first season in LA after spending ten seasons in Green Bay, but this was not due to talent, but health. Bulaga dealt with an assortment of injuries in 2020, and at the age of 32, this is very concerning.
Nonetheless, this is where Bulaga wins by near default. No team in the division is particularly strong at the right tackle position.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 potential cut candidates the team could sign this summer
The Raiders seem to revamp their roster every offseason, and looking at some cut candidates, there could be some solid fits still out there in 2021.
The Raiders are fielding a rookie at right tackle in Alex Leatherwood, the Chiefs are starting journeyman Mike Remmers and the Broncos are starting solid tackle, Bobby Massie. This leaves Bulaga as the de facto prize here at right tackle, if healthy he could really be quite a difference-maker for the Chargers this season.