Three biggest concerns for Las Vegas Raiders before the draft

1. Finding another pass rusher 

Las Vegas pass-rush was a weakness. Last season, it recorded 27 sacks, 30th in the NFL. DE Maxx Crosby carried the load. He was the only player with double-digit sacks, recording 12.5 in 17 games.

DE Chandler Jones looked like a free-agent flop. In 15 games, he only recorded 4.5 sacks, the second-lowest mark in his career. Jones, 33, could be exiting his prime. Therefore, it’s unlikely he’ll rebound next season.

Las Vegas has the No. 7 overall pick within range to target a pass-rusher. It could select Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as his No. 1 DE prospect. At 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, he has the physical tools to develop into a player that can potentially help Crosby.

2. A backup plan for Jimmy G 

Although Garoppolo has a 40-17 starting record, he has an alarming injury history. Over the past five seasons, he missed 31 games with injuries, including a broken foot against Miami in December, causing him to miss the rest of the season.

At 31, his durability probably won’t improve. So drafting a QB gives Las Vegas more long-term security and a fallback plan if Garoppolo isn’t the answer.

The Raiders could use their first-rounder on a QB. Yet the 2023 QB class is deep, meaning they could wait until the second round to find a future starter. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker — who led the FBS in QBR (89.5) last season — is a projected Day 2 pick, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, and could be available for Las Vegas.

3. A Darren Waller replacement   

The Raiders traded Waller to New York for a third-round pick (No. 100 overall). Replacing Waller is challenging because the former Pro Bowler had 286 receptions for 3,469 yards and 17 TDs in five seasons as a Raider.

Las Vegas signed two-time Pro Bowler Austin Hooper and former first-round pick O.J. Howard, but both have lost dynamic playmaking ability. In 2022, Hooper only started in two games and recorded a career-low in receiving TDs (two), while Howard had a career-low 10 receptions in 13 games.

The 2023 NFL Draft has multiple TEs capable of becoming productive starters. One sleeper could be Miami’s Will Mallory, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.54 seconds) among TEs at the NFL Scouting Combine. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s a projected Day 3 pick.