Las Vegas Raiders: Pressing questions entering 2022 Week 1
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have a talented roster going into the 2022 NFL season, but questions still are lingering entering Week 1.
We are officially one week away from the Las Vegas Raiders kicking off their 2022 NFL season in Los Angeles. Playing the division rival Chargers right out of the gate will be a good test for a Raiders team that revamped the roster in a big way this offseason.
It will also be the debut for new head coach Josh McDaniels, who has put his stamp on the team this summer and looks ready to tackle his second stint as an NFL head coach. With more talent on the roster than we have seen in recent years, and capable coaching staff in place, is this the year the Raiders finally dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West?
To do so, they will need to play consistent football, and entering Week 1, there are still some pressing issues to address.
Las Vegas Raiders: Pressing questions entering 2022 Week 1
Will the offensive line hold up?
The Raiders went into the offseason needing to address the offensive line, and it is very questionable as to whether or not they did enough in that department. Kolton Miller returns, and he is one of the best young left tackles in football, while Andre James got better at center as the year went on in 2021.
The rest of the offensive line is a big question mark but will need to step up in a big way if the Raiders and their new-look offense are to do some damage in 2022. Derek Carr has a multitude of weapons in the passing game, including Davante Adams, while also boasting a top-3 tight end in Darren Waller and a strong group of running backs.
If he can get time, this offense is going to be explosive.
Did the Raiders do enough in the secondary
One area the Raiders needed to address on defense was the secondary, and they did so by trading away Yannick Ngakoue to the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Last year, they struck gold in the draft by adding Tre’Von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs, two players who will be cornerstones of this defensive backfield for years to come.
Outside of those three, there are question marks, including fourth-year safety Johnathan Abram. He has yet to reach his first-round potential and could be passed on the depth chart by Duron Harmon, a guy McDaniels is familiar with from his days in New England.
The AFC West is loaded at quarterback, and the Raiders have struggled mightily in the past against the pass, so hopefully, they did enough to address their deficiencies back there.
Who emerges as WR3?
We know Adams is going to be the main target in the passing game, as he is the best wide receiver in football, and is quarterback Derek Carr’s best friend. Last year, Hunter Renfrow emerged as a superstar at the position as well, hauling in over 100 catches in a season that saw many of the options in the passing game struggle to stay on the field.
With Adams and Renfrow atop the depth chart, it will be interesting to see who is the WR3 for the Silver and Black this season. They have some solid options in Mack Hollins, Tyron Johnson, and DJ Turner, all of whom earned their spot on the 53-man roster with strong summers.