The Las Vegas Raiders begin their 2024 NFL season on Sunday with an away game against division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers. This marks Antonio Pierce’s first game as the permanent head coach, after the franchise solidified its commitment to him during the offseason.
Since Pierce took over, he and general manager Tom Telesco have done a commendable job strengthening the roster. The goal is for the Raiders to consistently be playoff contenders, and their strong finish to the 2023 season under Pierce offers hope for Raider Nation.
On offense, veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who won the starting job over Aidan O’Connell this summer, will be key. Minshew’s experience and confidence are sure to energize fans, but excitement will quickly fade if he doesn’t lead the team to victories.
Defensively, the Raiders’ front seven, anchored by star Maxx Crosby, has the potential to be among the best in the league. However, the secondary remains a concern, particularly with questions surrounding Jakorian Bennett.
One solution could be signing veteran cornerback Xavien Howard, who is still available for the 2024 season. Howard started 13 games for the Miami Dolphins last year and has had at least one interception for seven straight seasons, accumulating 29 career interceptions. Although his streak of Pro Bowl appearances ended in 2023, Howard remains a proven player who could immediately strengthen the Raiders’ secondary.
At 31, Howard was named to the NFL’s Top-100 just two years ago and likely still has plenty to offer. While Las Vegas boasts a solid safety duo in Marcus Epps and Trevon Moehrig, and a capable cornerback pairing in Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs, Bennett’s inconsistency could prove costly. Adding Howard would provide vital depth and security to the Raiders’ defense.
