Raiders 2021 Season Outlook: Similar To What It Always Seems To Be

The NFL season is just around the corner and, once again, there are major questions around the Raiders and what they might look like in their fourth year under Jon Gruden.

Are the Expectations For the Raiders in 2021 Higher Than in Previous Years?

Not really.

Most would agree that the Raiders rolled out a very effective offense in 2020. If it wasn’t for the fact that they didn’t play defense, one could argue that they would have been a playoff team a year ago. The Raiders did some much-needed work on defense in the offseason which did help them look better and better for NFL odds experts, but most sports books still project the Raiders to finish below .500 for season – which is pretty much where it feels like the Raiders are projected to finish every year.

For those keeping track, the Raiders have the fewest winning seasons among all NFL organizations since 2003.

Warren Sharp on Twitter: “winning seasons since 2003:17 – NE161514 – SEA13 – IND, GB, PIT, BAL12 – KC11 – PHI10 – DAL, LAC 9 – DEN, MIN, NO, TEN 8 – ATL, HOU 7 – CIN, NYG 6 – CAR, CHI, NYJ, TB 5 – BUF, ARI, MIA, LAR, WAS 4 – DET, JAX, SF 3 2 – CLE 1 – LVR / Twitter”

winning seasons since 2003:17 – NE161514 – SEA13 – IND, GB, PIT, BAL12 – KC11 – PHI10 – DAL, LAC 9 – DEN, MIN, NO, TEN 8 – ATL, HOU 7 – CIN, NYG 6 – CAR, CHI, NYJ, TB 5 – BUF, ARI, MIA, LAR, WAS 4 – DET, JAX, SF 3 2 – CLE 1 – LVR

Will This Season Will Be Derek Carr’s To Win or Leave LV?

It’s hard to believe but Derek Carr is somehow entering his 8th NFL season in 2021. Trade winds swirl every offseason, but the result is always the same. Carr has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in each of his last three seasons with only 17 interceptions and a pass completion rate of 65%. Statistically, 2020 was the best season on his NFL career (although 2016 mostly felt like the better year).

Some might view 2021 as a do-or-die season for Carr, but that narrative has been going on for years. Jon Gruden steering clear of Tom Brady a year ago (when Brady apparently wanted to play for the Raiders), so it’s hard to imagine he’s as close to moving on at quarterback as most seem to think.

Jacobs and Drake Could Be Terrific For LV, Terrifying For Opponents

The Raiders took some criticism for signing Kenyan Drake to a lucrative deal, but it’s become increasingly clear that Gruden doesn’t want to take a lot of carries away from Jacobs. If anything, it looks like Gruden would like to carve out a new role in his offense – a role that Lynn Bowden Jr. was drafted to fill a year ago.

2021 Needs To Be The Year Henry Ruggs Breaks Out

Nelson Agholor left for New England, leaving the WR1 position up for grabs. That means it’s time for Ruggs to justify his draft position and become more involved in the offense. We know Ruggs added muscle in the offseason (12 pounds is the rumor), but his route-running also needs a lot of improvement from a year ago.

Historically, Carr has thrived with larger, more-physical receivers. This year the Raiders are filled to the gills with smaller, less-physical receivers. So it will be interesting to see which, if any of them, can break out.

Can Gus Bradley Really Turn Around The Defense?

Every year it seems like the Raiders have a plan to turn around the defense and every year their plan ends up circling the drain. It’s more than just a personnel problem. At this point it’s as much a cultural problem that’s been passed down through the organization for nearly two decades. Maybe Bradley has the answers, but his success will largely hinge on his ability to bring discipline to a defense that embraced dysfunction for the better part of two decades.

twitter: @raidersbeat