The Las Vegas Raiders have a talented roster on both sides of the ball going into the 2024 campaign, which leaves no shortage of options for who could be the team's most valuable player this coming season.
In a recent article naming the most likely team MVP for every NFL squad in 2024, Eric Edholm of NFL.com listed star edge rusher Maxx Crosby for the Raiders, which is undoubtedly the best choice.
But that go us thinking: who else is capable of earning that distinction in the season ahead? Here's a look at five other Raiders who fit the bill along with Crosby.
Raiders' team MVP candidates
DE Maxx Crosby
Crosby is the favorite to be Las Vegas' most important player in 2024, a label he has owned for years now. The star edge rusher has improved his numbers in each of the last three seasons and is coming off a career-best campaign with 14.5 sacks.
Adding to the optimism that he can be even better in 2024, he's now got more help in defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who will no doubt take pressure off Crosby and strengthen a defensive line that includes 2023 breakout player, Malcolm Koonce.
In a division that has two very good quarterbacks, and in a conference that is loaded with them, the ability to rush the passer is crucial, hence Crosby's importance to this team.
WR Davante Adams
With question marks at the quarterback position, the Raiders might need their wide receivers to step up more than normal, and Adams is certainly capable of doing that and making the job of Las Vegas' signal-callers much easier.
Adams had what can be considered a down season in 2023, but that was not because of a decline. Instead, it can largely be blamed on instability on offense, as the Raiders changed play-callers and switched to a rookie quarterback midseason. Even still, the 31-year-old broke 1,100 yards and found pay dirt eight times.
If the Raiders' quarterbacks have any semblance of success, Adams will surely have a big hand in it. And, if they thrive, Adams could have a monster year.
RB Zamir White
White is entering his first full season as a starter after finally getting a taste over the final four games of 2023. In that span, White tallied 397 rushing yards, which equates to nearly 1,700 yards if you average that total out over 17 games.
If whoever starts at quarterback for the Raiders struggles, Las Vegas might have to lean on the rushing attack as its engine on offense. That would put White in position to have a big season, which in turn would make him a vital player.
DL Christian Wilkins
As we mentioned in the write-up for Crosby, Wilkins, who is coming off a career year, is going to provide a huge boost for the Raiders' star pass-rusher and the Raiders' defensive front as a whole thanks to the attention he commands.
On the flip side, the attention Crosby commands should also help free Wilkins up more, so it's a symbiotic relationship. If Wilkins can make the impact many project him to as a pass-rusher and run defender, he could very well be the most important player on defense in 2024.
CB Jack Jones
The Raiders struck gold when they claimed Jones off waivers in 2023. The Arizona State product was outstanding after he surrendered a completion rate of 56.3% and a passer rating of just 63.0 in seven games with the Raiders.
With a question mark on the other side, and with the league being filled with a ton of game-breaking pass-catchers, the Raiders need Jones to continue playing at that level if they want their defense to reach its full potential.
QB Aidan O'Connell
The Raiders have a strong roster on both sides of the ball, but their ability to break their two-year playoff drought will ultimately be determined by how their quarterback plays.
Minshew is likely to be average, at best, based on what we've seen during his career, and that type of performance won't get Las Vegas very far.
O'Connell remains a total wild card with just one season and 10 starts in the NFL under his belt. The Purdue product no doubt had his struggles in Year 1, but he also finished the season strong despite the overall instability on offense and his being thrown into the fire sooner than expected.
Nobody is saying O'Connell is a lock to make a huge Year 2 leap and cement himself as the long-term solution, but there's at least a chance for that to happen. Should he do that en route to elevating the Raiders to a different level, he would easily be considered the team's most valuable player.
