S&BP’s 2024 season Awards: Bowers gets more hardware

Our MVP, DPOY, OPOY, ROY and COPY

With the 2024 season in the books for the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s time for Silver and Black Pride’s annual awards article. Below are our picks for the Raiders’ MVP, Offensive, Defensive, Rookie and Comeback Players of the Year.

MVP

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Consensus pick: Brock Bowers

Ray Aspuria: Brock Bowers

The rookie sensation proved plenty of draft pundits right that he was not only NFL-ready out the gate, but he was an absolute gem of a prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. While many initially called the selection of Bowers at No. 13 overall a “luxury pick”, the Georgia product proved to be a necessity for the dilapidated Raiders. We’ve all written about the production and we’ll likely each pen the accolades Bowers is slated to earn. I’ll say this: On a Las Vegas team that many have earmarked as lacking a No. 1 wide receiver, the tight end is the de facto top option.

Matt Holder: Brock Bowers

It’s hard to go against Bowers. He had the best season of a rookie tight end in NFL history and quickly became the Raiders’ best offensive player. The offense ran through him and Las Vegas would have had a tough time scoring points—even tougher than it already had—if it weren’t for the rookie tight end.

Marcus Johnson: Brock Bowers

It is clear from day one that Bowers was a special player for the Raiders. His finishing the season with 112 catches and 1,194 yards displays his impact in year one. Bowers is the future of the Raiders and will have a chance to become one of their greatest tight ends of all time.

Bill Williamson: Brock Bowers

Four years ago, his senior season of high school football was wiped out due to COVID and then he had one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL tight end. Incredible.

OPOY

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Consensus pick: Jakobi Meyers

RA: Jakobi Meyers

I’m not one who subscribes to the notion that the Raiders lack a No. 1 wide receiver. Meyers took that mantle from Davante Adams and produced a fine 2024 campaign with 87 receptions for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns. The yardage represents Meyers’ first-career 1,000-yard season. And, depending on which statistical charting you follow (Pro Football Reference, Pro Football Focus or 33rd Team), Meyers had zero to one drop over the course of his impressive sixth season in the NFL. Meyers is under contract for 2025 and, like Bowers, produced despite a questionable quarterback room.

MH: Jakobi Meyers

With Bowers already getting the MVP, I’ll go with the sixth-year pro who had a career year. He set personal bests in receptions (87) and yards (1,027) both of which were the second-most on the Raiders. But Meyers really earned the award by stepping up after the Davante Adams trade. He took on the challenge of leading the position group and might have earned a contract extension in the offseason.

MJ: Jakobi Meyers

It was easy to go with Brock Bowers again here, but I went with Jakobi Meyers. Meyers had a career season with 87 receptions, 1027 yards, and four touchdowns. He had an opportunity to step up and be successful after the Davante Adams. Meyers made the most of it, having three 100-yard games after the trade. That’s why he is the Offensive Player of the Year.

BW: Jakobi Meyers

He had a career year and really stepped up after the Davante Adams trade. Underrated player.

DPOY

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Consensus pick: Tre’von Moehrig

RA: Tre’von Moehrig

Originally, I had typed Robert Spillane here. But what Moehrig did this season impressed me more. The safety put forth his finest season as a Raider and finished second in total tackles (104) behind Spillane (158). Moehrig also finished tied second for interceptions with two (with Spillane) and second in pass deflections with 10. In his fourth season in Las Vegas, Moehrig showed he’s capable of being an in-the-box safety and high-cover guy, too. And was the communicative leader on the backend of the Raiders defense. Rarely coming off the field, Moehrig accounted for 1,101 defensive snaps (99 percent of the Raiders defense’s total).

MH: Tre’von Moehrig

While Maxx Crosby is the defense’s best player, Moehrig was the most valuable defender this fall, in my opinion. He took on a new role after Marcus Epps’ injury, playing in the box more and becoming a bigger leader. The fourth-year pro showed up on all three levels on the defense, ranking second on the team in total tackles (104) and passes defended (10) while also showing up as a pass-rusher with 12 pressures on 64 opportunities, per Pro Football Focus.

MJ: Tre’von Moehrig

While Maxx Crosby is the best player on the team, the DPOY is Trevon Moehrig. Moehrig was the most consistent defender weekly and played a different position than usual. Stepping up into the box, Moehrig excelled in blitzing and playing the run. He also recorded two interceptions and was good in man coverage throughout the year. Moehrig is a player the Raiders should re-sign this offseason.

BW: Maxx Crosby

Could have gone with the tackle machine Robert Spillane because Crosby’s season was cut short. But that dude was never off the field when he did play and was as disruptive as ever.

ROY

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Consensus pick: Brock Bowers

RA: Brock Bowers

I was very close to putting Jackson Powers-Johnson here, but went with Bowers. While JPJ had an eye-opening initial season in the league in his own right, it’s difficult to ascend the talented offensive lineman (and should be the starting center going forward), what Bowers was able to do considering the quarterbacks throwing him the ball can’t be ignored. The tight end finished third overall in receptions (112), eight in yards (1,194), and fourth in yards after the catch (596).

MH: Jackson Powers-Johnson

Bowers is the easy choice here, but I already gave him my MVP vote and he’ll likely win ROY with my colleagues’ votes. So, I’m going to give JPJ some love instead. It’s no coincidence that the Raiders’ running game and offensive line improved once he took over at center. Plus, the Oregon product played two positions as a rookie and was good at both spots. That’s not easy to do in year one.

MJ: Brock Bowers

While it could go with another player, it has to be Brock Bowers. Bowers’s historic season isn’t duplicated by any of the other rookies. Jackson Powers-Johnson could be a candidate, but Bowers was the consistent player on the offense. He could not be stopped during certain games and was a matchup problem all season. Rookie of the year has to be Bowers.

BW: Brock Bowers

I mean, who else?

COPY

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Consensus pick: no consensus

RA: Kolton Miller

A stalwart blindside protector once more. Sure, Miller had to knock off some early-season rust but was once again a stout presence at left tackle. After playing in only 13 games last season (with 11 starts), Miller played and started in all 17 games this season showcasing a cleaner bill of health compared to the 2023 campaign. Able to handle both speed and power rushers, Miller was his usual reliable self when put on an island on the blind side.

MH: K’Lavon Chaisson

Admittedly, I’m eating some crow here as I brushed off the Chaisson addition when it happened. However, he ended up ranking tied for the second-most sacks (five) on the team and was fourth in pressures (29), per PFF. Both of those figures were career highs as the former Jaguar helped mitigate the loss of Crosby down the stretch of the season. Not bad for a guy who was cut by the Panthers at the end of training camp.

MJ: Ameer Abdullah

Abdullah had his best year since his early years in Detriot. He had his first 100-yard game of his career in Week 17 and proved he could still be a reliable running back in the NFL. The Raiders will have to make the choice whether to add him back to the roster, but another NFL team will pick him up.

BW: Aidan O’Connell

He lost the starting job and then won it back. He showed resiliency.