NFL Power Rankings: Steelers rise and Texans fall flat in July

22. Las Vegas Raiders (finished 16)

What I said at the end of last season:

"The Raiders are average through and through, so I can think of no better team to take the 16th spot in these rankings. On defense, the pass rush needs to be better although an outstanding rookie year form Maxx Crosby helps to ease the pain of Clelin Ferrell’s lack lust first year. Behind the front line, almost everyone needs to be replaced so I won’t bother spending much time on that. Offensively, the Raiders have something nice in Joshua Jacobs and Darren Waller but they are going to need some firepower outside if they are ever going to be an offense that can keep up with the point that their defense will allow. With the love and affection that Mike Mayock has for “winners” you have to think that someone like Tee Higgins or Justin Jefferson is going to be high on his board in April."

Looking back:

This may seem strange looking back on what I said to where we are now, but I feel worse about the Raiders today than I did in those power rankings at the beginning of 2020. The Raiders did keep with their trends of drafting  “winners” in the first round with Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette, but I don’t know that they are what this team needed.

Right now it looks like the Raiders are desperately trying to move on from a good right guard in Gabe Jackson and outside of Maxx Crosby and maybe Maurice Hurst and Clelin Ferrell, I am not confident in any defender on that roster.

I think the Raiders are in a situation similar to where the Titans were in 2019, just waiting to move on from their starting QB but the problem is they have Marcus Mariota behind Derek Carr and not Ryan Tannehill.