NFL Season 2022/23 Preview – Las Vegas Raiders

In any other division in the NFL, you would be talking about the Las Vegas Raiders as potentially being not just a playoff team, but in with a shot at landing the divisional title. Yet such is the quality in the AFC West this season, that the Raiders are most people’s pick for bottom spot in the division.

That’s harsh on a team that are certainly amongst the best in the AFC and who have made some significant signings this season, including snagging the best WR in the NFL over the past couple of years, Davante Adams from Green Bay.

A solid draft added to a core of fine players, and with Derek Carr’s future assured at QB, the Raiders are a contender here, even in what is an extremely tough AFC West.  

Las Vegas Raiders Factfile

• Owners – Mark and Carol Davis
• Stadium – Allegiant Stadium
• Capacity – 65,000
• Super Bowl Wins – 3 (1976, 1980, 1983)
• Conference Champions – 4 (1976, 1980, 1983, 2002)
• Divisional Champions – 15 (AFL West 1967-1969, AFC West 1970, 1972-1976, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2002)
• NFL Legends – George Bianda (QB/K), Willie Brown (CB/Coach), Gene Upshaw (G), Art Shell (OT), Fred Biletnikoff (WR), Howie Long (DE), Marcus Allen (RB), Rod Woodson (S), Ken Stabler (QB), Tim Brown (WR), Charles Woodson (CB), Cliff Branch (WR), Al Davis (Owner), John Madden (Coach), Rich Gannon (QB), Seb Janikowski (K), Bill Romanowski (LB), Shane Lechler (P)
• Head Coach – Josh McDaniels
• Offensive Coordinator – Mick Lombardi
• Defensive Coordinator – Patrick Graham
• Special Teams Coordinator – Tom McMahon

2021/22 Regular Season Record

• Division – AFC West
• Record (W-L-T) – 10-7
• Position – 2nd
• TD Scored – 37
• TD Conceded – 47
• Passing Yards (TD) – 4567 (23)
• Rushing Yards (TD) – 1617 (14)
• Turnovers – -9 (15-24)
• Defensive Interceptions – 6
• Fumbles Forced (Recovered) – 13 (9)
• Offensive Interceptions – 14
• Fumbles Made (Recovered) – 29 (19)
• Offense Rankings – 21^st
• Defense Ranking – 26^th
• Special Teams Ranking – 10^th

2022 Off-Season Roster Changes

Class Of 2022 Draft Picks

• Round 1 – None
• Round 2 – None
• Round 3 – Dylan Parham (OG)
• Round 4 – Zamir White (RB), Neil Farrell Jr. (DT)
• Round 5 – Matthew Butler (DT)
• Round 6 – None
• Round 7 – Thayer Munford Jr. (OT), Brittain Brown (RB)

Key Players Leaving Las Vegas Raiders (FA & Trades)

• Alex Ingold (FB) – Free Agency (joined Miami Dolphins)
• Jeremiah Poutasi (G) – Free Agency
• Keisan Nixon (CB) – Free Agency (joined Green Bay Packers)
• Kamaal Seymour (G) – Free Agency
• Sutton Smith (EDGE) – Free Agency
• Jordan Simmons (RB) – Free Agency
• Brandon Facyson (CB) – Free Agency (joined Indianapolis Colts)
• Marquel Lee (LB) – Free Agency (joined Buffalo Bills)
• Peyton Barber (RB) – Free Agency
• Patrick Onwuasor (LB) – Free Agency
• Darius Philon (DL) – Free Agency
• Kyle Wilber (LB) – Free Agency
• Derek Carrier (TE) – Free Agency
• Desmond Trufant (CB) – Free Agency
• Bryan Edwards (WR) – Trade (joined Atlanta Falcons)
• Nick Martin (C) – Free Agency
• Gerald McCoy (DL) – Free Agency
• DeSean Jackson (WR) – Free Agency
• Richie Incognito (G) – Free Agency
• Casey Heyward (CD) – Free Agency (joined Atlanta Falcons)
• Zay Jones (WR) – Free Agency (joined Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Soloman Thomas (EDGE) – Free Agency (joined New York Jets)
• Quinton Jefferson (DL) – Free Agency (joined Seattle Seahawks)
• J.Wright (LB) – Free Agency
• Jalen Richard (RB) – Free Agency
• Marcus Mariota (QB) – Free Agency (joined Atlanta Falcons)
• Nicholas Morrow (LB) – Free Agency (joined Chicago Bears)
• Nick Kwiatkoski (LB) – Free Agency (joined Atlanta Falcons)
• Carl Nassib (EDGE) – Free Agency
• Cory Littleton (LB) – Free Agency (joined Carolina Panthers)
• Yannick Ngakoue (EDGE) – Free Agency (joined Indianapolis Colts)

Key Players Joining Las Vegas Raiders (FA & Trades)

• Chandler Jones (EDGE) – Free Agency (from Arizona Cardinals)
• Davante Adams (WR) – Franchise Offer (from Green Bay Packers)
• Keelan Cole (WR) – Free Agency (from New York Jets)
• Vernan Butler (DL) – Free Agency (from Buffalo Bills)
• Jayon Brown (LB) – Free Agency (from Tennessee Titans)
• Rock Ya-Sin (CB) – Free Agency (from Indianapolis Colts)
• Brandon Bolden (RB) – Free Agency (from New England Patriots)
• Kyler Fackrell (EDGE) – Free Agency (from Los Angeles Chargers)
• Tyler Lancaster (DL) – Free Agency (from Green Bay Packers)
• Duron Hammon (S) – Free Agency (from Atlanta Falcons part of Edwards deal)
• Demarcus Robinson (WR) – Free Agency (from Kansas City Chiefs)
• Mack Hollins (WR) – Free Agency (from Miami Dolphins)
• Jacob Holister (TE) – Free Agency (from Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Kyle Peko (DL) – Free Agency (from Tennessee Titans)
• Ameer Abdullah (RB) – Free Agency (from Carolina Panthers)
• Tashawn Bower (EDGE) – Free Agency (from Minnesota Vikings)
• Nick Mullens (QB) – Free Agency (from Cleveland Browns)
• Jakob Johnson (FB) – Free Agency (from New England Patriots)
• Alex Bars (G) – Free Agency (from Chicago Bears)
• Micah Kiser (LB) – Free Agency (from Denver Broncos)
• Jarrett Stidham (QB) – Trade (from New England Patriots)
• Anthony Averett (CB) – Free Agency (from Baltimore Ravens)
• Jesper Horstead (TE) – Free Agency (from Chicago Bears)
• Kenny Young (LB) – Free Agency (from Denver Broncos)
• Bilal Nichols (DL) – Free Agency (from Chicago Bears)
• Darius Phillips (CB) – Free Agency (from Cincinnati Bengals)

Key Players Re-Signed This Summer

• Derek Carr (QB)
• Johnathan Hankins (DL)
• Brandon Parker (T)
• Jermaine Eluemunor (G)
• Dallinn Leavitt (S)
• Jackson Barton (T)
• Maxx Crosby (EDGE)
• Roderic Teamer (S)
• Hunter Renfrow (WR)
• Nick Bowers (TE)
• Lester Cotton (G)

Las Vegas Raiders Projected Key Players 2022/23 Season

Offense

• QB – Derek Carr, Nick Mullens, Jarrett Stidham
• RB – Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Zamir White, Brandon Bolden
• WR – Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Demarcus Robinson, Tyron Johnson, Keelan Cole, Mack Hollins, Dillon Stoner, DJ> Turner, Jordan Veasy, Justin Hall, Jakob Johnson (FB)
• TE – Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Jacob Hollister, Nick Bowers
• LT – Kolton Miller, Brandon Parker, Bamidele Olaseni, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
• LG – Denzelle Good, John Simpson, Alex Bars, Lester Cotton Sr.
• C – Andre James, Hronis Grasu
• RG – Jermaine Eluemunor, Dylan Parham, Thayer Munford
• RT – Alex Leatherwood, Jackson Barton

Defense

• DE/EDGE – Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones, Clelin Ferrerll, Malcolm Koonce
• DT – Johnathan Hankins, Bilal Nichols, Vernon Butler, Kyle Peko, Matthew Butler
• OLB – Denzel Perryman, Divine Deablo, Kyler Fackrell, Kenny Young, Luke Masterson
• MLB – Jayon Brown, Micah Kiser, Darien Butler
• CB – Rock Ya-Sin, Trayvon Mullen Jr., Nate Hobbs, Darius Phillips, Anthony Averett, Amik Robertson
• SS – Johnathan Abram, Duron Harmon, Roderic Teamer
• FS – Tre’von Moehrig, Tyree Gillespie, Isaiah Pola-Mao

Special Teams

• KR – Kenyan Drake
• LS – Trent Sleg
• K – Daniel Carlson
• P – AJ Cole

2022/23 Season Schedule

• Preseason P – v Jacksonville Jaguars (4^th Aug – Hall of Fame Game)
• Preseason 1 – v Minnesota Vikings (14^th Aug)
• Preseason 2 – @ Miami Dolphins (20^th Aug)
• Preseason 3 – v New England Patriots (26^th Aug)

Regular Season

• Week 1 – @ Los Angeles Chargers (11^th Sep)
• Week 2 – v Arizona Cardinals (18^th Sep)
• Week 3 – @ Tennessee Titans (25^th Sep)
• Week 4 – v Denver Broncos (2^nd Oct)
• Week 5 – @ Kansas City Chiefs (10^th Oct) MNF
• Week 6 – Bye Week
• Week 7 – v Houston Texans (23^rd Oct)
• Week 8 – @ New Orleans Saints (30^th Oct)
• Week 9 – @ Jacksonville Jaguars (6^th Nov)
• Week 10 – v Indianapolis Colts (13^th Nov)
• Week 11 – @ Denver Broncos (20^th Nov)
• Week 12 – @ Seattle Seahawks (27^th Nov)
• Week 13 – v Los Angeles Chargers (4^th Dec)
• Week 14 – @ Los Angeles Rams (8^th Dec) TNF
• Week 15 – v New England Patriots (18^th Dec)
• Week 16 – @ Pittsburgh Steelers (24^th Dec)
• Week 17 – v San Francisco 49ers (1^st Jan)
• Week 18 – v Kansas City Chiefs (8^th Jan)

Games selected for Thursday Night Football (TNF), Monday Night Football (MNF) or International Series (ISL – London, ISMC – Mexico City, ISMU – Munich) are indicated as shown.

Las Vegas Raiders – Strengths

• The Raiders have strengthened in numerous areas from last season and with Derek Carr’s future settled and the best receiving corps he has had in his time as QB, the Raiders should have a potent offense.
• Key additions on the defense have really strengthened this area of the team too with Chandler Jones, Tre’von Moehrig and Rock Ya-Sin all good additions.

Las Vegas Raiders – Weaknesses

• The Raiders do have a tendency to be inconsistent, brilliant one week and poor the next. They need to eliminate that if they are to challenge in this division.
• With all the talent they have at WR, they still need to establish a running game rather than be too reliant on Adams, Renfrow and Robinson. Josh Jacobs needs to be key this season.

Season Predictions & Top Betting Picks For The Las Vegas Raiders

• Regular Season Record Prediction – 7-10
• Playoffs? – No
• Super Bowl Winning Odds – 35/1
• Conference Champion Odds – 18/1
• Divisional Winner Odds – 6/1
• Best Player on Offense – Davante Adams (WR)
• Best Player on Defense – Chandler Jones (EDGE)
• Best Rookie – Dylan Parham (G)
• Surprise Of The Season – TE Darren Waller to score almost as many touchdowns than Davante Adams this season, benefitting from the extra coverage afforded to the wideout.

The big new signings will make a splash in Las Vegas, but their old issues of consistency may mean that despite pushing teams close in games, they may end up on the wrong end of the scoreline

Our Favourite Pre-Season Betting Picks For The Las Vegas Raiders

The odds shown and each market for Las Vegas Raiders is taken from Bet365 Sport.

• Tip 1 – Las Vegas Raiders to make the Playoffs – No – 5/12
• Tip 2 – 4^th Position in AFC West – 23/20
• Tip 3 – Week 1 @ Los Angeles Chargers – Over 52.0 pts, 10/11

*All odds shown were correct at the time of writing with Bet365 Sport but are likely to have changed in the meantime and may also change further as the season progresses.