Just In: The new general manager may decide to add a veteran quarterbackTo Raiders…..
In Week 18, we often hear about “meaningless” games between teams out of playoff contention, but a handful of Las Vegas Raiders will have some motivation to wrap up the 2023 season with one of their best games.
Some players need to use every opportunity to showcase their talent before they hit free agency. Others have uncertain futures with the possibility that owner Mark Davis will make a splashy new hire for the general manager and head coach positions. A couple of rookies should want to build positive momentum going into the offseason.
As for the Broncos, they’ll look to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Raiders, and quarterback Jarrett Stidham has another week to put himself in the mix to start in Denver next season. He may have a little more enthusiasm, going against his former team in Las Vegas.
Let’s take a look at five players who can benefit most from a strong showing in Week 18.
Whatever you think about Aidan O’Connell’s rookie season isn’t going to change with one game against the Broncos.
However, in all likelihood, the Raiders will revamp their quarterback room in the offseason, and O’Connell isn’t a lock to hold the primary backup job.
The new general manager may decide to add a veteran quarterback in case he’s unable to make an aggressive move up in the draft order. The Raiders won’t know which quarterbacks will be available with their first-round pick, so they may look for a low-cost veteran insurance policy via trade or free agency.
Moreover, Las Vegas’ former shot-callers, Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels, drafted O’Connell, and they’re no longer with the organization. Even if the team retains interim general manager Champ Kelly, he may have a different vision for the club’s quarterback situation.
O’Connell has gone through his ups and downs, throwing for 1,974 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games (nine starts), which is a decent rookie campaign for a fourth-round pick.
However, because O’Connell is a middle-round selection from the previous administration and a limited pocket-passer in a league that has an increasing number of mobile quarterbacks, he’s not a lock for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart next season.
In the absence of Josh Jacobs, Zamir White has performed at the level of a lead running back with the lion’s share of the touches out of Las Vegas’ backfield. Over the last three weeks, he’s recorded 59 carries for 285 yards and a touchdown with eight catches for 51 yards.
With his recent outings, White may have played his way into a steady role for the 2024 campaign if the Raiders allow Jacobs to sign elsewhere on the free-agent market.
Even if Jacobs remains a Raider beyond this season, White could make a case for a bigger role with a strong finish, running up and down the field against the Broncos’ 31st-ranked run defense that allows the most (five) yards per carry.
Of course, the new full-time head coach and offensive coordinator will have the final call on the offensive personnel groupings, so it’s important that White takes advantage of every opportunity in a featured role.
Between Weeks 6 and 8, Jermaine Eluemunor split snaps with Thayer Munford Jr. at right tackle. Since Week 14, Eluemunor has started at right tackle, and Munford has filled in for Kolton Miller (shoulder) at left tackle.
Though Eluemunor went through a tough stretch between Weeks 3 and 4, giving up 11 pressures and five sacks in games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers, he’s committed just five penalties (five fewer than last season), and his pass-blocking efficiency has only dropped .4 from last year, per Pro Football Focus.
At 29 years old, Eluemunor is a decent offensive lineman with guard-tackle and opposite-end versatility across the offensive line. He’ll hit the free-agent market one more time before he turns 30 years old and probably wants some stability on a multiyear deal.
On Sunday, Eluemunor can put a solid outing on film for a lasting impression on teams, including the Raiders, that will look to shore up the offensive line with a veteran presence.
Malcolm Koonce’s recent breakout has overshadowed chatter about Tyree Wilson’s rookie development. The former has registered 12 tackles, four for loss, and five sacks in the last three weeks while the latter has shown minor flashes in the same stretch.
With the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Las Vegas selected Wilson, who’s expected to help Maxx Crosby rush the passer and stop the run on the front line, but we only saw glimpses of the rookie’s potential this year.
Wilson had a slow start to his first pro campaign. He missed most of the offseason program while on the mend from foot surgery. As many expected, the Raiders limited his workload for most of the season. Wilson has only played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in four out of 16 games.
Over the past month, Koonce’s notable progress may have come at the cost of Wilson’s time on the field, but the Raiders did see flashes out of him at defensive tackle, specifically against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.
Wilson isn’t going to quell concerns from his doubters with a breakout Week 18 performance, but he can build momentum going into an offseason that’s crucial for his growth.
In 16 games, Wilson has recorded 28 tackles, one for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven pressures, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Amik Robertson had a brutal Week 17 outing, giving up a perfect passer rating (158.3) in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he gave up four receptions for 80 yards on five targets, which included a 58-yard touchdown while in Cover 0.
Because of recency bias, critics will say Robertson has no shot to remain in Las Vegas on a new deal, nor will he garner a decent contract on the free-agent market. Yet the fourth-year cornerback has put together a solid campaign, allowing a 57.1 percent completion rate, a 76.2 passer rating, and just two touchdowns in coverage.
Robertson probably doesn’t want to head into a free-agent offseason on a sour note, especially since he’s mostly had a decent year. He can bounce back against the Broncos with a performance that better represents his body of work this season.
