The Las Vegas Raiders offense could look very different heading into the 2023 season.
The Raiders will already be featuring a different starting quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, but they could also be losing out on key pieces like Josh Jacobs and Hunter Renfrow, as both players have contract situations that need resolving. While Davante Adams remains on the roster, he lost his running mate in Darren Waller earlier in the offseason when Las Vegas shipped him out to the New York Giants in exchange for a third-round pick.
After an OTA session with the Giants, Waller seemed to throw shade at his former team and head coach Josh McDaniels via Jordan Raanan of ESPN:
“Yeah, they value our opinions here,” Waller said Thursday after standing out in the Giants’ third OTA workout this spring. “As a player, I feel like a lot of places I’ve gone, you’re told to do things a certain way and you do those things. But here it’s like, they ask a lot of questions. They want to know what you’re thinking, what you want to do more.
“So to offer input is a really cool thing because coaches and players have to be in partnership. We’re all together and shouldn’t be clashing with each other. We’re all going in the same direction.”
This almost certainly feels like a dig at the Raiders organization and McDaniels considering how poorly things went for Waller during the 2022 season. Waller missed eight games due to injury, and even when he was healthy only averaged about 43 receiving yards a game.
The tight end looked like a shell of the Pro Bowl player the Silver and Black developed in previous years, but now he gets a fresh start with a Giants team that is expected to feature him offensively. Trading Waller was probably the right move considering his age and injury history, but if he proves to be healthy, then it could be another black mark for a franchise that’s desperate to get back to winning.
Las Vegas rumored to be in mix for DeAndre Hopkins
Outside of Adams, the Raiders don’t currently have any other potent receiving threats. Adams commands so much defensive attention, so trying to find him some help should be a priority for the front office.
With that in mind, it was no surprise to see Las Vegas’ name linked to DeAndre Hopkins, who was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were unable to find a suitable trade partner for Hopkins, and he could be the boost that the Raiders need right now.
