The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a crucial season in 2024, as they look to build on what was a crazy season in 2023, with Antonio Pierce coming in as the interim head coach, and restoring faith in the franchise. But, was that just a honeymoon phase, or is Pierce the real deal? If he can have a better season than what he did last year, the Raiders should be staring down the barrel of a playoff spot.
But, it won't be easy. They are in a tough division with the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions in the Kansas City Chiefs. They certainly have the roster to compete. It comes down to two things, though. They need to have good quarterback play from whoever it may be that is the quarterback, and they need to have good coaching.
We know guys like Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams will be the team MVPs of this team if all goes well. Those guys are what we call automatic. However, other guys can have a huge impact on this team as well. There are at least three other people on this team who can claim the title of team MVP if everything goes how it's supposed to.
Three Raiders MVPs for 2024
Aidan O'Connell, QB
What is the hardest and most important position in all of sports? It has to be the quarterback position, right? That's why the quarterback often wins the MVP award because they are the most valuable person. Without a good quarterback, you are basically doomed, especially these days when almost every team has a good quarterback.
Well, with O'Connell, we saw him a bit last year. He wasn't good, but he wasn't bad. He played like a rookie fourth-round pick who got thrown into the fire in a bad offense. He played how you would expect him to play. Not to mention, he didn't have any first-team reps all offseason. Now he will have those reps, he should be in a better offseason, and he has learned from the bad that did happen. He is going to have a big season and possibly be a team MVP. First, he has to win the QB competition , though, which I feel he will do.
Kolton Miller, LT
Miller is one of the best-left tackles in the league. Honestly, he is probably a top-five guy in his position , but he never gets that kind of recognition. Miller has never made a Pro Bowl. Last season, he was banged up pretty badly, and when he did play he was still dominant at times.
Factor in him finally getting healthy, playing in a new zone scheme that helps him with his play style, and having better teammates around him, Miller will come for blood in 2024. He will finally get the recognition he deserves, and have a standout season. Not only will Miller be up for a team MVP award, I think he could be up for a Pro Bowl, or even an All-Pro.
Jack Jones, CB
I could have gone with Christian Wilkins here, but that felt too much of an easy way out. I like Wilkins, and he will be dominant, but I think Jack Jones will take a huge leap in a crucial year. He has yet to play a full season, and we know he has the talent to be elite.
If Jones can stay healthy, with a second year and a full offseason in Patrick Graham's defensive system, he can be a guy that leads the secondary in every way imaginable. He already has the perfect kind of confidence you need, too. The defense was amazing last year, and a huge reason why was Jones, who had two pick-sixs. If he can replicate that through a full season, the league is in trouble.
Related: Aidan O'Connell is already working on his mobility and throwing on the run at Raiders OTAs
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