Las Vegas Raiders' biggest X-factors on offense for 2024 NFL season

   

Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell impresses in second career NFL start

The Las Vegas Raiders' offense is looking to take the next step in 2024, as the unit will attempt to build off a solid finish from last year that saw the team go 5-4 with Aidan O'Connell under center after the firing of Josh McDaniels.

First-year offensive coordinator Luke Getsty will play a prominent role in transforming Vegas' offense, but there are a couple of players — old and new — who could play a major role in taking the offense to another level.

On the flip side, there is no guarantee the Raiders will get much, if anything out of them. With that being said, here are the Raiders' three biggest offensive X-factors ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Las Vegas Raiders X-factors

QBs Aidan O'Connell, Gardner Minshew

Though we don't know who the starter will be, the quarterback situation in Las Vegas will make or break the season.

Aidan O'Connell showed glimpses of excellent play in his ten starts last year, but a larger sample size is needed to fully gauge the second-year signal caller. Though he filled in admirably for Anthony Richardson in 2023, Gardner Minshew is set to play for his fourth team in six years and has spent most of his career as a backup.

Whether it's O'Connell or Minshew under center for the Raiders, quarterback play will determine whether or not Las Vegas can end its playoff drought in 2024.

RT Thayer Munford Jr.

Raiders RT Thayer Munford works with first-team offense again

With the departure of Jermaine Eluemunor, Thayer Munford Jr. is expected to take over as the starting right tackle.

The 24-year-old doesn't instill a ton of confidence, though, after he allowed four sacks and 28 QB pressures in 521 snaps during 2023. He did, however, score a 80.4 run-blocking grade.

Las Vegas' offensive line could establish itself as one of the better units in the NFL if Munford Jr. can provide adequate play on the right side along with rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson. That would be a big boost for the offense.

RB Zamir White

Raiders news: Rookie running back Zamir White starting to come around -  Silver And Black Pride

White impressed in limited snaps last year, rushing for 451 yards and averaging 4.3 yards per carry. The 24-year-old's breakout game came in Week 16, when he rushed for 145 yards in the Raiders' win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

With the departure of Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay Packers, White is expected to become the featured back in Getsy's offense.

If Las Vegas can establish a formidable running game with the former Georgia Bulldog, it will take some pressure off the starting quarterback and create an offensive identity for the Silver and Black.