Buying or Selling Raiders' Top Offseason Performances Ahead Of Training Camp
Change appears to be coming for the Las Vegas Raiders. A strong finish to the 2023 season coupled with the hiring of a new front office should have fans excited about what's in store for 2024.
New head coach Antonio Pierce proved during last year's interim stint that he can make the Raiders competitive in the AFC West. The time for building a team that can be more than just relevant is nearly upon us.
Rookies reported to training camp on Sunday, and the Raiders' veterans are set to join them on Tuesday, July 23. From there, the buzz for the 2024 season will only continue to grow.
Who will be the stars of Las Vegas' upcoming campaign? That remains to be seen, but a few players have already managed to make a little noise. Below, you'll find a look at three of the Raiders' offseason standouts, what their performances at organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps could mean in 2024 and whether we're ready to believe the early hype.
CB Brandon Facyson: Buy
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Las Vegas had a decent enough pass defense in 2023—it ranked 11th in net yards per pass attempt allowed—but it could be even better in 2024. Nate Hobbs is expected to return to the nickl role, where he has excelled, while the Raiders expect big things from late 2023 addition Jack Jones.
Brandon Facyson has become a bit of a forgotten man after missing the bulk of his latest Raiders campaign with a shin injury. However, the 29-year-old—who played for Las Vegas in 2021 before spending the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts—was "hitting the ground running" in the early offseason, according to Levi Edwards of the team's official website.
"I think the sky's the limit for him," Hobbs said, per Edwards. "... Once he gets in his bag, he's hard to stop. He makes it very hard on the opposing team."
Facyson has never been an elite corner and has some risk-reward tendencies. However, he flashed his playmaking potential in his first Raiders stint, recording an interception and 13 passes defended.
He's a big (6'2", 197 lbs), physical corner who can add another element to the Raiders' perimeter defense. If Facyson is indeed back to pre-injury form, he should make an impact in 2024.
QB Aidan O'Connell: Sell
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When it comes to camp competitions, all eyes in Las Vegas will be on the battle between incumbent Aidan O'Connell and free-agent addition Gardner Minshew. Coming out of OTAs and minicamp, O'Connell appeared to have the edge.
"O'Connell and Minshew in the spring went tit for tat; went after it," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter in June (h/t Bleacher Report's Doric Sam). "O'Connell probably has the slight edge right now based on coming into Year 2, being more vocal," Fowler said. "I'm told he's acting like a starting quarterback and Davante Adams loves him."
With all due respect, O'Connell should have the edge after starting 10 games for the Raiders in 2023. However, this doesn't mean that he'll hold off the more seasoned and aggressive Minshew through training camp.
The reality is that while O'Connell flashed some promise as a rookie, he had a fairly conservative play style and didn't offer much as a scrambler. Minshew is a more aggressive thrower who does offer some dual-threat ability, making him a better fit for new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
We don't want to diminish O'Connell's growth or suggest that he can't still become a viable NFL starter. Yet, any thought that he's already poised to be Las Vegas' QB of the future would be premature.
Minshew has already shown that he can be a fine starter (90.2 career QB rating) when thrust into the role. With a full offseason to fight for the job, he should overtake O'Connell as the Week 1 guy.
DT Christian Wilkins: Buy
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Along with Minshew, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was a big addition in free agency. One of the top players available at any position, the mammoth (6'4", 310 lbs) defensive tackle already looks like a potential game-changer for Las Vegas.
"That dude is running so fast every single play. Wherever the ball is, you'll see him soon," Minshew told reporters of Wilkins during OTAs. "He shows up. It's really impressive to be around a guy that nonstop works the way he does."
Minsehw's comments aren't just offseason hype. During Wilkins' five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, he consistently made plays as a high-effort defensive disruptor. He was regularly around the ball as a run-defender during his first four campaigns—during which he totaled 290 total tackles and 166 solo stops.
Wilkins was used as more of an interior rusher under coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023 and excelled in that role too. He still tallied 65 total tackles, but he also racked up nine sacks and an impressive 30 quarterback pressures.
While Wilkins has never secured a Pro Bowl nod, that should change in 2024. He's already impressing with his performances in practice. Playing in the same defensive front as Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce should allow him to have a special first season with the Raiders.
*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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