Bold Predictions for Raiders' Individual Stat Leaders in 2024 NFL Season

The new-look Las Vegas Raiders, constructed by head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, are coming together. Las Vegas wrapped its preseason on Friday, and its opener against the Los Angeles Chargers is less than two weeks away.

While many of the Raiders' core players are back from last season, a few new additions will alter the landscape and, ideally, return Las Vegas to relevance in the AFC West.

While we don't know exactly how the roster will shape up ahead of Tuesday's cut deadline, we have a pretty good idea of who the team's top contributors are likely to be. This makes now the perfect time for a little statistical projection.

We'll go beyond the raw numbers here, and make a few bold predictions about Las Vegas' projected stat leaders in 2024.

The Raiders named Gardner Minshew the starting quarterback after their second preseason game, which may have surprised some fans. While neither he nor Aidan O'Connell showed a ton in the preseason, O'Connell, at times, appeared to operate the offense more efficiently.

There are a couple of reasons why the decision was logical, though. It'll be easier to go back to O'Connell if Minshew falters than to pivot in the other direction—O'Connell already has well-established relationships with much of the roster. Minshew's arm strength and mobility may also make him a more natural fit for Luke Getsy's offense.

Pierce made it clear that the choice is about the start of the 2024 campaign.

"We feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that's what we're going with," he said, per NFL.com's Grant Gordon.

There's a very real chance that O'Connell does receive starts at some point this season, but the prediction here is that Minshew holds down the job when healthy. In doing so, he'll be primed for the best statistical season of his career.

As a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, Minshew threw for 21 touchdowns in 12 starts. Last season with the Indianapolis Colts, he threw for 3,305 yards in 13 starts. Given the presence of playmakers like Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers, Minshew can surpass both thresholds while keeping Las Vegas in the playoff picture.

Stat Prediction: 4,211 passing yards, 27 TDs, 10 INTs, 362 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs

In his five seasons with the Raiders, running back Josh Jacobs topped 1,100 scrimmage yards every single season. Even when he struggled with rushing efficiency, Jacobs was able to compile yards because of his receiving ability.

Jacobs caught an impressive 197 passes as a Raiders and topped 40 receptions in each of the past four campaigns.

New starter Zamir White isn't likely to hold the same every-down role that Jacobs previously had in Las Vegas. Getsy is likely to use more of a committee approach to replicate Jacobs' production, which may mean a lot of rookie receiving back Dylan Laube.

However, White showed late last season that he can be a centerpiece of the Raiders offense as a run-heavy option. He made four starts late in 2023 and racked up 397 rushing yards during that span. Las Vegas went 3-1 in those games, recording wins over all three division rivals.

While Getsy, Minshew, Adams and Co. can forge an explosive passing attack, expect Pierce to covet a balanced offense that can bully opponents on the ground when necessary. That will give White plenty of opportunities to pound the rock.

Jacobs recorded three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with Las Vegas. White will record the first of his NFL career in 2024.

Stat Prediction: 1,189 rushing yards, 31 receptions, 210 receiving yards, 9 TDs

Pass-rusher Maxx Crosby just might be the best player on Las Vegas' roster, at any position. A 2019 fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan, Crosby has developed into a legitimate star thanks largely to one of the most relentless motors in the NFL.

This isn't to say that Crosby isn't physically talented, but there are times when the 27-year-old seems to disrupt plays through sheer will and effort.

Whether it's because of his drat stats, the fact that he's rarely the most physically imposing player on the field or because the Raiders haven't regularly been in the spotlight, Crosby has only received modest consideration for Defensive Player of the Year. He was fourth in AP voting last season despite racking up 14.5 sacks, a league-high 23 tackles for loss (tied with Danielle Hunter), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 90 tackles and a whopping 50 quarterback pressures.

Expect Crosby to gain even more recognition this season, finishing second in voting if not winning the award outright. There are a couple of reasons for this—starting with the fact that the addition of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins should give Crosby even more one-on-one rushing opportunities.

Las Vegas' offense should be more potent too, which should put opponents into passing situations more frequently. Only 11 teams faced fewer pass attempts than Las Vegas last season.

After three straight Pro Bowl campaigns, Crosby's status as one of the league's best defenders can no longer be ignored.

Stat Prediction: 89 tackles, 16.0 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 passes defended, 1 safety

*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference