The Raiders’ future looks wild. We’re counting down our best predictions for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, including a surprise quarterback and an old face as head coach.
#6 Fan support for the Las Vegas Raiders will be at an all-time low
It’s important to listen to your fan base, and the Las Vegas Raiders don’t seem to do that. For example, when Raiders fans wanted Rich Bisaccia as head coach, owner Mark Davis chose Josh McDaniels instead. This is far from the only time they’ve done this, too.
Josh McDaniels’ first order of business was to sign Derek Carr to a two-year, $125.5 million contract. Fans hated this due to Carr’s inconsistency and his frequent turnover issues. The team still stuck with the decision for much of the year before finally benching him for Jarret Stidham.
Everyone wanted McDaniels gone after this and his 6-11 record, but he convinced Davis that Carr was the problem. McDaniels then hired an injury-prone and unproven quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, who was worse. Fans have tried over and over again to bring change to the Raiders. The problem is that no one seems to be listening.
That likely means Raider Nation is going to smarten up and stop caring.
#5 Davantae Adams leaves the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024
Davantae Adams staying in Las Vegas will probably come down to one very important thing- the team’s future direction and who’s captaining the ship. Adams has been a vocal advocate of Las Vegas keeping Antonio Pierce, but what if Mark Davis decides against it?
Adams stated that he was coming to Las Vegas in 2022 to win championships and hasn’t even made the playoffs yet. He is also saddled with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell for the foreseeable future, which complicates things.
Don’t expect Adams to stick around very long if Mark Davis starts making poor management decisions again.
#4 The Las Vegas Raiders’ defense is in the top ten
Believe it or not, 2024 will be the year of the Las Vegas Raiders defense. The organization has stalled on this side of the ball for so long that change is a certainty.
And it’s already happening. The Raiders’ defense held the defending Super Bowl-winning champion Chiefs to seven points and forced two turnovers. The whole unit is changing before everyone’s eyes, and it’s not over yet.
Just imagine what this defense could be capable of with a few more pieces in place and some discipline.
Related: 5 ways Las Vegas sports can make history in 2024
#3 Las Vegas Raiders makes major changes to the running game
Joshua Jacobs is a great running back who helped the Las Vegas Raiders through rough times. However, he’s not the only guy at the position, and that seems to be what the Raiders don’t understand. The organization is over-reliant on Jacobs at the expense of some of their other weapons.
One example is Zamir White, who has racked up 79 carries for 339 yards and one touchdown this season. He has been a bright spot for the Raiders after Jacobs’ quad injury, showing just how versatile the running game is. This is precisely why the Raiders need to split carries more often and try different approaches at running back.
There is just no reason to rely on one guy to get the job done when you have two great backs at your disposal. They could even add a third running back to the ensemble in free agency and create an unstoppable running game.
#2 Jon Gruden gets rehired as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders
Mark Davis has a lot of difficult decisions to make, and one of them is naming a new head coach. Different names have already flooded the rumor mill of who the next candidate will be, but one name sticks out. This is Jon Gruden, who Hondo Carpenter of Sports illustrated claims Davis wants back as head coach.
“I am going to tell you there are a lot of people who feel that Mark Davis, more than [Tom] Brady, and Jim Gray, the person he trusts the most is Jon Gruden and would love to bring him back. I am hearing from multiple people around the league that if Jon were willing to drop his lawsuit, they believe the NFL would give a passive nod to go back and rehire him… everyone keeps talking about Jon Gruden.”
This is probably the least popular option of the available candidates and will have many fans angry at the decision. The team and fans want Antonio Pierce after his 4-4 record as interim head coach. Davis, however, might see Pierce missing the playoffs as a strike against him and decide to call up his old friend.
#1 The Las Vegas Raiders stick with Aidan O’Connell
Aidan O’Connell doesn’t look like a permanent solution for the Las Vegas Raiders. He turns the ball over too often, does not have the needed experience, and struggles to get his team down the field. Despite these shortcomings, he could still be the starter for the Raiders in 2024.
This is because there aren’t many suitable replacements on the depth chart or in free agency. Las Vegas only has Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer as backups, who have both proven to be unsuitable. Free agency doesn’t have a lot of big names either, leaving the Raiders at a major disadvantage.
There are guys like Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, and Jameis Winson in free agency, but they aren’t going to lead a franchise. That’s why Las Vegas is much better off keeping O’Connell as a bridge quarterback and waiting for a more viable market. They just have to put up with the fans complaining in the meantime.
Next: Sporting events coming to Las Vegas in 2024
