Raiders mandatory minicamp: 6 things to watch

The end of the offseason work is here

The Las Vegas Raiders will hold their mandatory minicamp Tuesday through Thursday.

This will be the most important on-field work of the offseason and the last time the team is together before training camp starts late next month as the September 7 regular-season opener at the New England Patriots looms.

Here are six keys to watch:

The rookies:

The Raiders have gotten a lot of kudos for their draft class and the early reviews from the OTA sessions have been strong. Players like first-round pick, running back Ashton Jeanty and wide receivers Jack Bech (second round) and Dont’a Thornton (fourth round) and cornerback Darien Porter (third round) all have a chance to play key roles this season. Let’s see how they do in the last work before training camp.

Geno Smith:

This team last year the Raiders’ quarterback position was up in the air as Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell were battling for the starting job. There is no such intrigue this year as Geno Smith is the clear starter after his trade from the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick in March. Still, this is an important camp for Smith and he works on getting accustomed to Chip Kelly’s offense and building a rapport with his new teammates.

The vibes:

This the fourth mandatory minicamp since 2021 and the second in a row that the Raiders have a different head coach. These camps are often about mood and tempo and building team chemistry and culture. The Raiders thought they had that all taken care of a year ago when Antonio Pierce took over on a full-time basis. We all know how that ended. Now, in comes Pete Carroll, who is famous for his good vibes. He will want to send his new team into the summer vacation on a high, positive note.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Chip affect:

Kelly is back in the NFL for the first time in nearly a decade as he takes over as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. Kelly is known as an offensive mastermind in the college game. He had mixed results as an NFL head coach. Yet, expectations and hopes are high as Kelly was brought in by Carroll to get the Raiders’ offense on the right track.

The defense:

Las Vegas may have more than half of their starters being newcomers after a mass exodus in free agency. The linebackers are completely new and their is big change in the secondary. It will be a work in progress, but this work this week is important for Patrick Graham’s unit.

Overall health:

Just as important as the on-field work and chemistry building is staying healthy this week. The Raiders can’t have any new injuries at this point. So, staying healthy is a key for a team that has been working without defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Adam Butler during the OTA sessions.