TAKING STOCK: 2022 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

BY ADAM GREENE

As Derek Carr’s desperation heave on fourth and goal fell into Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt’s hands, the Las Vegas Raiders saw their season come to a weird and not so bitter end in the Wild Card Round of the 2021-22 playoffs. The Raiders were not supposed to be there because no team had put up with anything close to what they had in off the field problems.

First, head coach Jon Gruden resigned after racist, sexist, homophobic, stupid and gross emails from him were leaked. Then, the team had to cut two former first round picks, wide receiver Henry Ruggs and cornerback Damon Arnette for reasons you can Google. I have no interest in writing another word about that darkness.

Rich Bisaccia took over as interim head coach and did as good a job as he could do under the circumstances. This is a team that should have folded its hand. Instead, they were a play away from pushing their Wild Card game against the eventual AFC Champions to overtime.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

2021-22 Record: 10-7, second place AFC West

Playoffs: Lost 26-19 to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card Round

NOW WHAT?

It’s an entirely new era for Las Vegas now, not only with new head coach Josh McDaniels, but a new general manager Dave Ziegler. There were rumblings about trading Derek Carr, but that’s pretty much an annual occurrence at this point. If it was going to happen, it probably would have by now so hopefully McDaniels learned his lesson after the Jay Cutler fiasco in his first doomed head coaching job with the Denver Broncos. This was a 10 win team that probably should have won 12 if not for all the distractions. They should be better with McDaniels calling the plays, but there are holes now in the roster that must be filled.

FREE AGENCY

With free agency kicking off as I’m writing this, Vegas has been pretty quiet. They’re losing a lot of free agents, but no key pieces so they can afford to wait until the prices drop and the high value targets are off the board. If I’m Carr, I’m lobbying for the team to sign Jarvis Landry today after the Cleveland Browns cut him. A corner like Joe Haden or Chris Harris makes a lot of sense and their need at defensive tackle could be addressed by Sheldon Richardson, Jarran Reed or maybe spend a little more money on a Ndamukong Suh.

DRAFT

In my first mock draft, I had the Raiders taking Drake London, wide receiver out of USC because it makes sense. He won’t replace Ruggs’ speed, but he’ll be a monster target on third downs and in the end zone at 6-5, 210 pounds. Under Gruden and Mike Mayock, Las Vegas was always turning in clown cards on draft day and their draft board was an industry joke. McDaniels and Zeigler, both out of New England, will be more predictable and more successful.

AFC WEST

The AFC West is now loaded, with Russell Wilson landing on the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers already building up their defense through trades and free agency and the Kansas City Chiefs will always be the team to beat as long as Patrick Mahomes is upright. All four of these teams could make the playoffs and that AFC Wild Card will be the most hotly contested three slots in the sport.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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