Three important decisions the Raiders must make before regular season

The Raiders missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season in 2023. While there's reason for optimism under new head coach Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas still has plenty of work to do.

With that in mind, here are three important decisions the Raiders must make before the regular season.

Who's the starting quarterback?

Although the Raiders signed QB Gardner Minshew II to a two-year, $25M deal this offseason, he has yet to earn the starting job. Minshew and Aidan O'Connell have split reps with the No. 1 offense in training camp, and neither is pulling away.

"What I see is two guys competing. I told [Minshew and O'Connell] it's time to make that leap," Pierce recently said, via Rachel Gossen of the team website. "Stop with the baby steps. Somebody grab the bull by the horns and be the guy, and they're trying to do that. The competition is high."

It remains to be seen whether O'Connell or Minshew will step up. The Athletic's Tashan Reed noted both QBs floundered during Tuesday's practice.

If this trend continues, Pierce may roll with O'Connell. ESPN's Dan Graziano suggested the HC may feel loyalty to the second-year passer, who went 5-4 in nine starts under Pierce last season.

How do they use their tight ends?

It appeared second-year tight end Michael Mayer would take a backseat when the Raiders took Georgia's Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Vegas may use both.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal expects the Raiders to run more 12 personnel — which features one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers — in 2024. This formation could strengthen their run game, creating play-action passing opportunities.

Bowers, a two-time John Mackey Award winner as college football's top TE, should still serve as the primary pass-catcher. On his X account, Nick Walters of KTNV-TV in Las Vegas shared a clip of 21-year-old Bowers making an acrobatic catch during Monday's practice.

Is Tre Tucker a viable WR3?

With WR Michael Gallup recently retiring, Tucker acknowledged he could receive more playing time and wants to capitalize on his opportunity.

"It's my job to lose," Tucker recently told reporters . "I'm going to take that approach, and whoever we bring in, and whoever we get, I'm just going to keep my head down and keep working."

The third-round pick out of Cincinnati showcased his explosive playmaking ability during his rookie season, leading the Raiders in yards per reception (17.4). He may be developing a case of butterfingers, though. The Athletic's Vic Tafur reported he dropped would-be-TDs in a recent practice.

If drops become a problem for Tucker, the Raiders may want to consider signing a veteran WR, perhaps former first-team All-Pro Michael Thomas.