Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders

As a former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, Dan Orlovsky brings a unique, on-field perspective to evaluating team rosters—and his recent breakdown of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest needs has sparked conversations among fans and front-office insiders alike. Orlovsky, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL with teams like the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts, doesn’t just focus on surface-level stats; he dives into scheme fit, positional depth, and long-term sustainability, identifying gaps that could derail the Raiders’ playoff hopes if unaddressed. In his analysis, Orlovsky emphasizes that the Raiders have a “competitive core” (led by Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams) but lack key pieces to turn potential into consistent success. Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders explores his top three priorities for the team, the reasoning behind each, and how addressing these needs could elevate the Raiders in the AFC West.

Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the Raiders’ urgent need to upgrade the offensive line, a weakness Orlovsky calls “a ticking time bomb” for quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Drawing on his own experience as a QB who faced constant pressure, Orlovsky points to the line’s struggles with both pass protection and run blocking as a foundational issue. “When I watched O’Connell this season, I saw a guy making good decisions—until he’s hit as he throws, or forced to scramble because his left tackle can’t hold a block,” Orlovsky said on a recent episode of NFL Live. “The Raiders’ line allows pressure on 34% of dropbacks, which is 13th in the league—and that’s with O’Connell getting rid of the ball quickly. If they don’t fix this, even a talented QB will regress.” Orlovsky specifically highlights left tackle as the most critical spot, noting that current starter Jason Brooks (a rookie) has shown promise but lacks the consistency to handle elite edge rushers like the Chiefs’ Chris Jones or the Chargers’ Joey Bosa. He suggests the Raiders target a veteran tackle in free agency or via trade—someone with 3–5 years of experience who can step in immediately and mentor Brooks, rather than relying on a draft pick who would need time to develop. “You don’t win in the NFL with a rookie left tackle protecting your QB’s blind side,” Orlovsky added. “The Raiders need a proven commodity here.”

Another top need Orlovsky identifies is strengthening the secondary, specifically at safety, a position he argues has been “a liability all season” for the Raiders. Orlovsky points to the Raiders’ struggles against tight ends and deep passes as evidence: opposing tight ends have scored 12 touchdowns against Las Vegas this season (fourth-most in the NFL), and quarterbacks have a 102.3 passer rating when targeting the middle of the field—well above the league average of 89.6. “Safety is about more than making interceptions—it’s about reading routes, communicating with cornerbacks, and shutting down the intermediate passing game,” Orlovsky explained. “The Raiders’ current safeties (Tre’von Moehrig and Duron Harmon) are solid, but they’re not game-changers. When you play in a division with Travis Kelce and Gerald Everett, you need a safety who can shadow those guys one-on-one.” Orlovsky suggests the Raiders pursue a “ball-hawking safety” in free agency, naming players like the Bills’ Jordan Poyer or the Bengals’ Jessie Bates III as potential targets. He also notes that drafting a safety in the early rounds (2nd or 3rd) could work, but only if the prospect has experience in a similar defensive scheme to Patrick Graham’s—avoiding the “scheme adjustment” growing pains that often slow down rookies.

A critical part of Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders is the need to add depth at running back, a position Orlovsky says is “undervalued” by many analysts but essential for the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive success. While Josh Jacobs has been a workhorse (18 carries per game), Orlovsky argues that the Raiders have no viable backup—something that could prove disastrous if Jacobs gets injured. “Jacobs is a good player, but he’s on pace for 288 carries this season—that’s a lot of wear and tear,” Orlovsky said. “The Raiders’ backup running backs (Zamir White and Brandon Bolden) have combined for just 45 carries and 1 touchdown. If Jacobs goes down, their run game collapses, and that makes O’Connell’s job 10 times harder.” Orlovsky suggests a two-part solution: sign a veteran backup with pass-catching skills (to complement Jacobs’ downhill style) and use a late-round draft pick on a developmental running back. He names the Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert as a potential free-agent target, noting that Mostert’s speed and ability to catch out of the backfield would add a new dimension to the Raiders’ offense. “For the Las Vegas Raiders, a reliable backup running back isn’t a luxury—it’s insurance,” Orlovsky added. “In a division where every game is decided by a touchdown or less, you can’t afford to lose your run game because of one injury.”

Orlovsky also highlights the need to improve depth at defensive end, a position that relies too heavily on Maxx Crosby, as a key priority for the Las Vegas Raiders. While Crosby has been dominant (12.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits), Orlovsky points out that the Raiders have no other defensive end with more than 3 sacks this season—a problem that becomes apparent when Crosby faces double-teams. “When teams double Crosby, the Raiders’ pass rush disappears,” Orlovsky said. “Their other ends (Tyree Wilson and Yannick Ngakoue) have shown flashes, but Wilson is a rookie still learning the league, and Ngakoue is a rental. They need a long-term solution who can take pressure off Crosby and keep opposing offensive lines honest.” Orlovsky suggests the Raiders target a “young, ascending defensive end” in the draft—someone in the 2nd or 3rd round who can play in Graham’s scheme and develop alongside Crosby. He also mentions that re-signing Ngakoue (who is set to be a free agent) could be a short-term fix, but only if the contract is “team-friendly” and doesn’t block the development of younger players. “For the Las Vegas Raiders, defensive end depth is about sustainability,” Orlovsky explained. “Crosby can’t do it alone forever—they need to build a rotation that keeps him fresh and ensures the pass rush doesn’t drop off when he’s on the sideline.”

Wrapping up Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders is Orlovsky’s final take: the Raiders need to balance short-term fixes with long-term planning to avoid the “cycle of mediocrity” that has plagued them in recent years. He emphasizes that while signing veterans can help the team compete now, they must also invest in the draft to build a core of young players who can grow with O’Connell. “The Raiders have a chance to be good—really good—if they address these needs wisely,” Orlovsky said. “They have stars, they have a good coach in Antonio Pierce, and they play in a division where the Chiefs are beatable. But they can’t keep patching holes with one-year deals; they need to build for the future while winning now.” Orlovsky concludes that the offensive line and secondary should be the top two priorities, as those positions have the biggest impact on both sides of the ball. “For the Las Vegas Raiders, this offseason is make-or-break,” he added. “If they fix these needs, they could be a playoff team for the next 3–4 years. If not, they’ll be back to square one.” Dan Orlovsky Breaks Down Needs for the Las Vegas Raiders ultimately offers a clear, actionable roadmap—one rooted in Orlovsky’s decades of NFL experience—for how the Raiders can turn potential into progress.