Big Year Looming for Las Vegas Raiders' 2023 Draft Class

The Las Vegas Raiders' 2023 draft class showed a lot of promise last season, and now, it's time for all of them to take that next step to become staples on this team.

The Las Vegas Raiders' 2023 draft class got off to a slow start last season, but by the end, there was much to be excited about.

Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, the club's first-round pick last year, missed much of his first NFL offseason due to his recovery from a season-ending injury he suffered in his final collegiate season. It took him a little while to find his stride, but when the team began to peak down the stretch, so too did Wilson, who started to show signs of why Las Vegas trusted him with its first-round pick.

This next season is going to be crucial for Wilson, as he is going to have to prove his value in a very talented defensive line room that will be led by Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins and Malcolm Koonce. The Raiders surely want Wilson to have a significant role in that room, but it may ultimately come down to how much he was able to improve this offseason when determining where and how he fits on the line.

Raiders' 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer also took some time to become a contributor for the Raiders, but when he did, he was one of their top offensive weapons, both as a receiver and as a blocker.

Like Wilson, the expectations for Mayer are going to be high going into next season, but with a year under his belt, he should be more than capable to meet them, or even surpass them.

Then, of course, there's quarterback Aidan O'Connell, whom the Raiders have complete faith in to continue to be their starter if he wins the role by the end of training camp.

O'Connell still has much to learn, but he helped lead Las Vegas to some big-time wins last season and was able to handle the pressure of being thrown into the fire remarkably well. This 2024 season is going to determine a lot when it comes to the former fourth-round pick's future and role with the team.

Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker is also going to be looking to to take on a bigger role next season as he will likely fill the third receiving option foid left my former Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.

Several other Raiders from the 2023 draft class will be working toward more prominent roles next season, but the aforementioned players will have the highest expectations weighing on their shoulders.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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