What Positions do Raiders Need to Address Long-Term?

The Las Vegas Raiders have some long-term options figured out, but still may need to find more.

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the offseason, which is when the team addresses roster holes and looks for ways to improve the team. 

The Raiders have already made big moves in free agency, signing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110 million contract and bringing in journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew to compete with Aidan O’Connell. 

The move to bring in Wilkins is a long-term upgrade on the interior defensive line while bringing in Minshew is a short-term fix at quarterback. The Raiders are deciding which positions to make long-term fixes and which to make immediate ones. 

So, which positions do the Raiders still need to make long-term investments? Let’s break it down by position. 

Let’s start with the offense. As previously mentioned, Minshew is on a two-year contract at quarterback, while O’Connell is on a four-year rookie deal. Is O’Connell the long-term option? Or will the Raiders find their franchise quarterback through the 2024 NFL Draft?

Zamir White has two more years on his rookie contract at running back, and running backs have become a dispensable position in recent years. However, White is well-liked by Raider Nation and his coaching staff, so if he keeps up the production he found at the end of 2023, he could be a long-term option. 

At wide receiver, Davante Adams is under contract for three more seasons and will be 35 years old at the end of those three years. Jakobi Meyers has two years left, while Tre Tucker is on a rookie contract. Because of how these contracts are structured, it may be in the Raiders’ best interest to find a long-term option through this draft class, as there are several good receivers in the class. 

The Raiders are set at tight end with Michael Mayer for the next three seasons on his rookie contract. Mayer may become a more featured part of the offense next season, so there is no need to look for long-term options beyond him. 

On the offensive line, left tackle Kolton Miller and left guard Dylan Parham have that side locked down. Center Andre James is back on a one-year contract, so they could look for a long-term center next season. They need to find answers at right guard and right tackle. 

Switching over to the defense, Maxx Crosby is a franchise staple, and Wilkins is now on a four-year deal. Defensive tackles John Jenkins and Adam Butler are both on one-year deals, so the Raiders may look for young depth at that spot. Malcolm Koonce looks like a candidate to get a major extension next season if he has another good season in 2024. 

At linebacker, the Raiders have expiring contracts with their starters, Divine Deablo and Robert Spillane. They must either pay them both next season or find long-term replacements. 

Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs are fixtures at cornerback in the defensive backfield. Tre’von Moehrig enters free agency next season, but if he has another good year, he will be an extension candidate. Marcus Epps also has one more year until he hits free agency, so the Raiders have to decide on his future. 

The Raiders will have decisions to make regarding some of their players’ futures as they look to build their core. 2024 will be telling as to who they decide to keep long-term.

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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