The Las Vegas Raiders had a busy off-season.
How bad was the duo of former Coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock in Las Vegas? They were in charge of the team’s drafts from 2019-2021. Earlier this week, the Raiders cut offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, the No. 17 overall pick in 2021. Everyone panned that as a reach at the time and it was. He became the third consecutive Raiders first-round draft pick not to even make it through two years on the roster. The team had three first-round picks in 2019 in Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, and Johnathan Abram and none had their fifth-year rookie options picked up. We could go on.
Gruden was fired during last season and Mayock after it, and it was a minor miracle considering all the poor personnel decisions that Las Vegas made in the playoffs and nearly upset eventual AFC champion Cincinnati in the Wild-Card Round.
The Raiders now have some true professionals in charge in GM Dave Ziegler and Coach Josh McDaniels, the long-time former Patriots offensive coordinator. The team made two big offseason player moves, trading for All-Pro receiver Davante Adams and signing one of the past decade’s best pass-rushers in Chandler Jones.
Las Vegas looks better on paper than last year’s 10-7 record but could have a worse mark in 2022 simply because the AFC West is so loaded. Let’s break down some Bovada specials for the Silver & Black.
Adams & Carr Teammates In College
Adams, fellow wideout Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller to combine for more than 2,999.5 receiving yards is +150. Adams had 1,553 last year in Green Bay, while Renfrow had 1,038 and Waller 665 in 11 games due to injury. It is fair to say the targets for the latter two will go down some with Adams in town – he was a teammate of QB Derek Carr at Fresno State.
Adams over 1,200.5 yards and 9.5 receiving TDs is +250. He topped that double three times in his career with Aaron Rodgers. Adams has over 1,200.5 receiving yards and Jacobs over 800.5 rushing yards is +300. Jacobs has easily topped that number all three seasons, but McDaniels likes to use multiple backs and the team is high on rookie Zamir White.
Carr to throw for at least 450 yards in any game is +300. His high last year was 435 and has topped 450 once in his career: 2016. Carr over 29.5 TD passes, Adams over 1,200.5 receiving yards and Waller over 70.5 catches is +550. Carr had 23 TDs last year, while Waller had 55 catches but remember missed games. He had 107 and 90 receptions the previous two seasons. Carr over 4,500.5 yards and the Raiders to reach the AFC title game is +1400. Barring injury, Carr seems a good bet to top his part as he threw for 4,804 yards in 2021 and now has Adams.
The Raiders to win all their home game and Jacobs over 7.5 rushing TDs is +12500. All AFC teams have eight home games this year and NFC teams nine. Vegas was 5-4 at Allegiant Stadium last season and has a very tough home slate with the three AFC West teams along with playoff-caliber clubs in Arizona, Indianapolis, New England, and San Francisco (the eighth is Houston).
