The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to bounce back after a very disappointing 6-11 finish last season.
Last offseason, they shocked the NFL by trading for Davante Adams, who is arguably the best wide receiver in football, and many expected them to have a shot at reaching the Super Bowl.
Instead, the 2022 campaign devolved into a slew of blown leads and close losses.
Quarterback Derek Carr may have been a casualty of that dismal season, as he was benched and released, and he is now with the New Orleans Saints.
The new man behind center for the Raiders will be Jimmy Garoppolo, who spent the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and started his career with the New England Patriots.
But he is far from the Raiders’ only former Patriot, as the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin pointed out.
Former Patriots currently on the Raiders 90-man roster:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
QB Brian Hoyer
WR Jakobi Meyers
WR Phillip Dorsett
WR Isaiah Zuber
WR DeAndre Carter
RB Brandon Bolden
OT Jermaine Eluemunor
OT Justin Herron
FB Jakob Johnson
DE Chandler Jones
DT Adam Butler— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) April 4, 2023
Not only does Las Vegas have a lot of former Patriots players, but its head coach is also a former Patriot.
Josh McDaniels, who took over the helm of the Raiders last season, had spent much of his career working under Bill Belichick in New England.
McDaniels was seemingly on the hot seat for much of last season as his team had lots of trouble winning games it was supposed to win, but his job is apparently safe.
The hope is that with Garoppolo’s steady hand and experience, the Raiders will return to the playoffs next season at a minimum.
But if that is to happen, their defense has to greatly improve.
They finished 26th in points allowed and 28th in total yards allowed, and that simply will not get it done.
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