A look at the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders Captains

Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders selected a group of seven men to be their captains. This group includes two defensive players and five offensive players. These captains represent everything the Raiders organization stands for as they push toward their fourth ever Super Bowl win.

Let’s take a deeper look at the careers of these men and how they got to where they are now.

Offensive Captains

QB Derek Carr – Carr is heading into the eighth year of his career. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 draft. During his time in the NFL, Carr has been selected to three Pro Bowls. Carr completed the 2020 season ranked as the #8 quarterback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. While Carr does not have any playoff wins in his career so far, he hopes that will change this season.

RB Josh Jacobs – Jacobs is heading into year three of his NFL career. After being drafted 24th overall in 2019, Jacobs has proved each year why he is the Raiders RB1. Jacobs rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the last two season. He was a finalist for offensive rookie of the year in 2019, but was beat out by Cardinals QB Kyler Murray in the end.

In 2020, Jacobs was selected to his first ever Pro Bowl after another great season. Going into year three, Jacobs hopes to see a contract extension in his future. In a running back room full of veterans, Jacobs is poised to be a fantastic leader.

FB Alec Ingold – Ingold was an undrafted free agent coming out of the University of Wisconsin in 2019. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders and the rest was history. Heading into year three, Ingold has spent the last two years proving why he should be a captain. His leadership abilities are unmatched.

Ingold receives the praise of his teammates almost weekly and is loved by head coach Jon Gruden. In Week 2 of last season, Ingold scored the first touchdown in Allegiant Stadium.

TE Darren Waller -You all know him, you all love him, Darren Waller. The Raiders elite tight end is heading into year seven of his career and his fourth with the Raiders. In 2020, Waller had a tremendous season with 107 receptions, 1,196 yards, and 9 TDs. 2020 was his second consecutive 1,000 yard season. After being voted to his first Pro Bowl last season, Waller hopes he can do it again this year, this time as a captain for the team.

OG Richie Incognito – The Raiders most experienced captain is offensive lineman Richie Incognito. Incognito was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2005. Incognito went on to play four seasons for the Rams. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins as well as the Buffalo Bills. After taking a year off in 2018, he signed with the Raiders in 2019. He has been voted to four Pro Bowls during his time in the NFL. Despite a lengthy injury history, Incognito is a fantastic leader for his team. 

Defensive Captains

DE Maxx Crosby – The Raiders 2019 fourth-round pick turned out to be one of their best picks of the draft. Maxx Crosby had a stellar rookie year. He finished with 10 sacks and was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Crosby’s second year stats weren’t as flashy, but his passion and love for football is unmatched.

Crosby’s work ethic has been praised numerous times by teammates and Head Coach Jon Gruden, making him the perfect choice for captain in 2021. Crosby hopes to excel compared to his first two seasons as he heads into year three.

DE Yannick Ngakoue – The Raiders signed Ngakoue as a free agent during the offseason but the impact he made was immediate. He joined forces with fellow captain Maxx Crosby to try and turn around a previously low-ranked defense. Ngakoue was drafted by the Jaguars in 2016 when current Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was serving as the Jaguars head coach.

Ngakoue spent the first four seasons of his career in Jacksonville, where he made the Pro Bowl in 2017. After spending last season with both the Vikings and Ravens, Ngakoue has found his home in Las Vegas. During a press conference, Yannick stated, “I feel like I was a Raider all along, it just took me a while to get here.” This statement perfectly describes what it means to be a Raider. Al Davis would be proud.

The Raiders have locked down a tremendous group of captains this season as they look for their first playoff berth since 2016. Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Mike Mayock should be proud of the players they have leading their team.