The big question is who will be the Raiders head coach in 2022, but one thing is for sure, whoever it is is getting some blue-chip players to coach.
The Las Vegas Raiders are in a strange spot in the 2022 off-season. Typically when a team is searching for a new general manager and head coach, it is off the heels of a poor season. While the Raiders were not an amazing team in 2021, they still managed a playoff berth.
So why are they searching for a reset?
Well, at the start of the 2021 season it appeared the Raiders would be led by Jon Gruden for the foreseeable future as he was in the midst of a mammoth 10-year, 100 million dollar contract. Even during some very disappointing finishes, it was presumed that “Chucky” would be the last to go if changes were made.
Then came the e-mails. Offensive and a complete shock, Gruden would resign in the middle of the season.
In the case of former general manager Mike Mayock, he was always dealt a bad hand. Long considered a figurehead at the GM spot, many assumed the loss of Gruden would spell the end of Mayock’s tenure as well. So, despite being a part of the acquisition of several quality players, Mayock was relieved of his duties.
Of course, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia performed admirably in a roller coaster of a season. Leading the Raiders to a 10-7 record, they were 7-5 under his watch and, of course, secured a playoff berth. He will get his chance to plead his case for the head coaching job long-term as well.
Regardless, the next Raiders coach will be taking the reigns of a team with young talent that is ready to win.
Raiders young core makes them NFL’s premier head coach landing spot
The offense
On the offensive side of the ball, the Las Vegas Raiders will have some work to do this off-season. The wide receiver room definitely needs some retooling and the offensive line will need to be reassessed. One member of this offensive line requires very little thought, however.
That of course would be left tackle, Kolton Miller.
Selected out of UCLA in the 2018 NFL Draft, Kolton Miller was considered by many to be one of the biggest reaches of the draft. An athletic specimen for the position, he still had a lot to learn. This showed early on in his NFL career as Miller was one of the worst offensive tackles in the NFL. Per PFF, he finished with a 48.2 grade and allowed a league-leading sixteen sacks. He was also second in the NFL with 65 pressures allowed.
Regardless, he battled through the injuries and poor play to become a crucial part of the Las Vegas offense. Credited with just four sacks allowed in 2021, PFF gave him an 84.2 overall grade. After signing a three-year, 54-million dollar contract, Miller will be sticking around in Vegas.
Of course, the Raiders’ best player resides on the offensive side of the ball as well. Through three years in the Silver and Black, Darren Waller is already a household name in the NFL. A true match-up nightmare when healthy he is easily a top-three tight end in the NFL.
Last season, the former Pro Bowler suffered through injuries but in 2019 and 2020 he had over 1,100 receiving yards. His 2020 season was especially noteworthy as he had a franchise record of 107 catches to go along with nine touchdowns.
Currently playing on a contract that puts him at 254th in terms of AAV, the Raiders will likely have to renegotiate with their superstar.
And let us not forget Hunter Renfrow, a 2019 draft pick that has come out of nowhere to be one of the top wideouts in the NFL. Renfrow topped 100 catches in 2021 and should be a mainstay on this roster for years to come.
Raiders young core makes them NFL’s premier head coach landing spot
The defense
On defense, the Raiders really have a chance to build something special. After the drastic improvement brought on by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Raiders fans finally got to experience an NFL defense that wasn’t flat-out embarrassing. Much of the reason for this success was due to a talented young core that, luckily for Raider Nation, will be around for years to come.
In the final draft of Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden’s tenure, the Raiders certainly had their struggles. After all, was there a worse pick than Alex Leatherwood in round one?
However, the Raiders did manage to find some incredible steals on the defensive side. Second-round pick Trevon Moehrig was fantastic as a rookie. Often playing as the single high safety in Gus Bradley’s cover three system, he excelled at limiting big plays.
The best selection of the Raiders 2021 class was undoubtedly the fifth-round pick Nate Hobbs. One of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL as a rookie, Hobbs will be a fixture in Las Vegas for years to come. Both Moehrig and Hobbs were selected to PFF’s All-Rookie team.
Perhaps the best building block on the Las Vegas Raiders is defensive end, Maxx Crosby. An All-Pro selection last season, Maxx Crosby led the entire NFL with 101 pressures. Simply, he was establishing what Raiders fans already knew: that Maxx Crosby is a superstar.
So much so that going forward, the entire defense will likely be built around him. He is the best player on the defense by a wide margin and, stunningly, is only improving.
Raiders go on the defensive in latest 3-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders can build on their defensive success from last season with this year's draft, and here is our 3-round mock.
As mentioned, the Las Vegas Raiders are hardly a finished product. They have much work to do at WR, CB, and offensive line. Depending on who you ask they also might need a quarterback. Regardless of the weak points on the team currently, the Raiders can offer a new head coach blue-chip talent that is among the league’s best.