Three hottest seats on the Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders missed the playoffs for a second straight year in 2023, but a late-season surge provided optimism. Las Vegas went 5-4 after interim coach Antonio Pierce replaced Josh McDaniels, earning him the full-time head-coaching gig.

The offense must improve after finishing 23rd in the league in points (19.5 PPG), and Las Vegas must make defensive tweaks to make a postseason push next season. With that in mind, here are the Raiders on the hottest seats in 2024:

Quarterback Aidan O'Connell 

During his rookie season, O'Connell — a fourth-round pick out of Purdue — failed to prove he's a franchise QB. In 11 games, he completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a below-average 40.5 QBR.

The Raiders brought in competition in free agency, signing Gardner Minshew II to a two-year, $25M deal. This move doesn't preclude them from drafting another QB with the 13th overall pick. 

In his latest mock draft, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah had Las Vegas taking Washington's Michael Penix Jr., a 2023 Heisman finalist. Jeremiah noted Penix's skills mesh with Las Vegas' offense.

O'Connell must separate himself in training camp and the preseason. Otherwise, the 25-year-old will fall down the depth chart, raising questions about his future with the organization.

Defensive end Tyree Wilson

The Raiders selected Wilson with the seventh overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping he would form a fearsome pass-rushing duo with three-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby. The former Texas Tech standout gas looked like a bust, though, logging 3.5 sacks in 17 games and an atrocious 47.1 Pro Football Focus grade.   

Meanwhile, third-year edge-rusher Malcolm Koonce finished 2023 with career highs in sacks (eight), pressures (23) and QB hits (17) in 17 games. PFF's Jonathon Macri recently tabbed Koonce as a 2024 breakout candidate, so it wouldn't be surprising if he receives more playing time than Wilson.

Wilson, 23, could still turn his career around. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, he has the physical tools to develop into a solid DE. Still, he must improve rapidly to prove the Raiders didn't make a mistake when they drafted him.

Running back Zamir White

Former first-team All-Pro Josh Jacobs signed a four-year, $48M deal with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, meaning White will probably assume RB1 duties in 2024.

The third-year RB filled in for Jacobs when a quadriceps injury sidelined him for the last four games in 2023. Surprisingly, White excelled, rushing for 397 yards and averaging 4.7 yards per carry. 

However, it appears the Raiders aren't sold on him yet, as they recently agreed to a deal with former Vikings starting RB Alexander Mattison. 

White — a former fourth-rounder out of Georgia — has a tremendous opportunity, but he must make the most of it to solidify his future in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old has two years left on his rookie contract.