The Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense was a mess last season. They went into the year with Gardner Minshew as the starting quarterback and Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator. Both of them quickly lost their jobs.
This offseason, the Raiders decided to spend big on upgrading at both positions. The team traded for quarterback Geno Smith and gave him a hefty contract extension. They also made Chip Kelly the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL.
That’s not to mention the Raiders using the No. 6 pick to draft star running back Ashton Jeanty. They had the worst rushing offense in the league last season, but that shouldn’t happen again if Jeanty stays healthy.
The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen went through and named six offenses that are ready to break out this season, and he listed the Raiders among them.
“The Raiders arguably have improved more than any other team in the league this offseason,” Nguyen wrote. “However, you can also argue they were one of the teams that had the furthest to go. Over the last two seasons, they ranked 27th in EPA per play and points per drive, and 31st in explosive play rate. This season, they’ve added stability by hiring coach Pete Carroll, who made one of the more interesting hires in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly’s offensive philosophy has thoroughly evolved since his last stint in the league. Instead of relying on tempo to create advantages, he’s shown the ability to scheme up a diverse run game and set up explosives off play action.”
Offensive Line Could Be Key for Raiders
When it comes to playmakers, the Raiders should have plenty. They don’t have a clear No. 1 wide receiver, but they did draft Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, who both could be impact players as rookies.
However, the whole key to the offense could be the offensive line.
“Jakobi Meyers is one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league, first-round rookie Ashton Jeanty should step in and immediately be one of the best running backs in the league, and Dont’e Thornton, the 6-foot-5 rookie receiver with 4.3 speed, has been opening eyes in organized team activities (OTAs),” Nguyen wrote. “The key will be whether they can get average offensive line play, but there is a lot to be excited about with this Raiders offense.”
The Raiders have some intriguing young players on the offensive line, but left tackle Kolton Miller is the only proven impact player. If young players like Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham and DJ Glaze can take a leap in 2025, Las Vegas could have a solid offensive line.
Can Raiders Have Top-10 Offense?
The Raiders’ offense is clearly heading in the right direction. They have arguably the best tight end in the NFL, Brock Bowers, and a potentially All-Pro running back in Jeanty.
Whether or not the Raiders can have a top-10 offense will come down to Kelly and the offensive line. It’s been a long time since Kelly called plays at the NFL level. He’s also had issues with offensive line schemes in the past. If he improves as a playcaller and offensive designer for professional football, the Raiders could be hard to stop.
