If the Raiders want to make it back to the postseason in 2024, they are going to need some of their young players to step up. That includes Tyree Wilson, Zamir White, and of course, Brock Bowers. Unfortunately, there just aren’t a ton of young players on the roster.
In a recent article by ESPN, they ranked every team’s young talent heading into the 2024 season. They used the methodology of players under the age of 25 and ranked them by talent, contract, positional value, etc.
The Raiders finished extremely low on the list, coming in at No. 31. ESPN cited that the Raiders have no proven blue-chip players under the age of 25 and only a handful of projected young starters. Here is what the site had to say about their young core going into the 2024 season:
The Raiders’ top two young guys may be tight ends: 21-year-old first-round pick Brock Bowers and 23-year-old Michael Mayer. The offensive line also features some young talent, with 24-year-old Thayer Munford Jr. at right tackle and 21-year-old second-round rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson possibly starting at left guard.
Running back Zamir White doesn’t turn 25 until mid-September, barely making it to be counted for this list. With Josh Jacobs departing for Green Bay in the offseason, White will assume the starting role in 2024.
The lack of talent added during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 drafts has significantly hurt the roster. They are missing several blue-chip players from those classes after trading away first-round picks and missing on Alex Leatherwood (2021 NFL Draft).
However, that doesn’t mean the team is doomed. The Raiders have a loaded defense and several proven veterans on offense including Davante Adams, Kolton Miller, and Jakobi Meyers. All they need is for a few young players to step up in 2024. And if that happens, the Raiders could be one of the biggest surprises in the AFC this year.
