Raiders' Biggest Weaknesses Ahead of 2023 NFL Training Camp

For the Las Vegas Raiders, the 2023 offseason has been all about roster turnover and building for the future.

Veterans such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Austin Hooper were signed to help bridge to the second stage of the latest rebuild, while players like Tyree Wilson and Michael Mayer were drafted to be long-term building blocks.

The future in Las Vegas can be bright, if the roster Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler are building develops and the Raiders find a long-term answer at quarterback. However, this isn't a team that is likely to contend in 2023.

The problem is that while the Raiders do have some elite talents on the team—like Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby and Josh Jacobs—they also have some glaring weaknesses that could severely limit them if answers aren't found before Week 1.

We'll dive into Las Vegas' three biggest weaknesses ahead of training camp below.

Offensive Line

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G Jermaine Eluemunor

The Raiders' offensive line wasn't as much of a liability in 2022 as it was the previous season. It opened holes for Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing, while allowing only 35 sacks, five fewer than in 2021.

However, this doesn't mean the line is anything close to flawless.

Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was a penalty machine in 2022, producing 10 flags and three sacks surrendered, according to Pro Football Focus. There are also questions at guard, where Alex Bars surrendered five sacks in 2022, while Dylan Parham surrendered six, according to PFF.

The Raiders didn't draft a lineman or invest in the line during free agency. It's now probably too late in the offseason to add a significant piece to the unit, so if the group is going to improve, it'll have to happen through camp competition.

And it's vital that the unit does get better. Jimmy Garoppolo is a much less mobile quarterback than Derek Carr. He is coming off a season-ending foot injury, and he has a lengthy injury history dating back to his time with the New England Patriots.

It's already going to be hard for Las Vegas to count on the 31-year-old playing all 17 games this season. Inconsistent line play could ensure that he doesn't.

Backfield Depth

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RB Zamir White

Josh Jacobs made his case for being the best back in the NFL this past season, and he's one of the reasons why Las Vegas can still win games during a transition year. However, there's no guarantee that he will be on the field in Week 1.

The Raiders gave the 25-year-old the franchise tag this offseason, and he may be willing to refuse playing on it in order to push back against a declining running back market.

"Sometimes it's not about you. We gotta do it for the ones after us," Jacobs tweeted.

The Raiders have until July 17 to work out a long-term deal with Jacobs, and a potential holdout could ensue if they don't. That would create problems because Las Vegas lacks proven depth behind the Alabama product at running back.

Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah are the most experienced backs on the roster, but the former is largely a special-teamer, while the latter hasn't been a regular starter since 2017 with the Detroit Lions.

The Raiders' other top backs, Zamir White and Brittain Brown, are entering their second seasons and have little pro playing experience.

It's not an ideal situation for the Raiders, though getting Jacobs under contract could solve the issue. If that doesn't happen, Las Vegas may have to ponder lingering free agents such as Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook.

Cornerback

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CB Jakorian Bennett

Some may consider it too early to call the cornerback position a weakness because most of the room was overhauled in the offseason. The Raiders signed Brandon Facyson, David Long Jr. and Duke Shelley before drafting Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett.

However, the fact remains that it's largely an unproven group—in terms of playing as a unit, anyway—that doesn't carry a ton of continuity over from last season.

Nate Hobbs is, arguably, the only returning player in line for a significant role.

On one hand, the turnover is a good thing. The Raiders ranked a dismal 28th in yards per pass attempt surrendered (6.7) while securing only six interceptions. On the other hand, though, Las Vegas has no idea what to expect from its new-look secondary.

In a division that features Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and perhaps the return of good Russell Wilson that could be a significant issue.

The Raiders are short on remaining free-agent options, though Marcus Peters appears to be on the team's radar. According to Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic, they "seem likely" to sign the 30-year-old before training camp.

While the three-time Pro Bowler would add a big name to the lineup, it should be noted that he struggled in 2022, allowing an opposing passer rating of 113.7, according to Pro Football Reference.

There's just no guarantee Peters makes this an above-average unit, and he's not on the roster yet.