Draft Night Thread
I don't really like Tom Brady, and I regret that a Patriot / TV Announcer has become a part owner of the Raiders. It feels corporate and establishmentarian--two things that the Raiders were born to resist under Al Davis.
Brady also comes across to me as a bit of an attention whore and try-hard. Why would someone in his position otherwise acquiesce to that disgraceful Tom Brady Roast last year?
All that said, I think Tom Brady is a champion, a winner and a competitor, and he is very smart. These things sort of offset my misgivings about him, because if it's one thing that the Raiders have been lacking under Mark Davis, it's smarts.
We can't ignore the Tom Brady effect now, because Mark Davis won't let us: "Bringing in Tom Brady was bringing in somebody on the football side that I had been lacking having here in the organization."
So that brings us to tonight's draft. Of course, Spytek and Carroll will be running the show and they are no slouches--but Brady is no doubt lurking in the background, serving perhaps as a 'kill switch' if Davis starts running with scissors and ordering people to draft Shadeur if he falls to the sixth slot.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts today. Once again I apologize for going dark for a period, this team hasn't done enough to counter the apathy that has crept up on me as we've flailed around under McDaniels and Pierce for the past three years. Thanks, Mark.
But I'm now excited about what comes next. We finally have a head coach who's a grownup, the best QB since Carr and, yes, a smart and proven winner whispering in the owner's ear.
Who would you draft? What do we need to focus on? Bang it here.
posted by Raider Take at 9:36 AM
170 Comments:
Great way to start the 2025 Draft, RT. Nice take!
IMO, the jury is still out on Brady. His strength is perceived as someone who can identify QB talent, not just throwing the ball but the intelligence and perseverance needed to be a winner. It's likely the Raiders will draft a QB this weekend, and Brady will be (or should be) at the forefront of that decision-making. Hit or miss, IMO, that pick will be on Brady.
To borrow your words, Mark Davis has been running with scissors and mismanaging his ownership of the Raiders for his entire tenure. I could make the list, but the proof is in his results.
Tonight, perhaps we get to see how it's really supposed to work. Yet, as you perhaps suggested, there may be too many cooks in the kitchen.
As for Skytek, surprisingly, he has some pretty big shoes to fill after Telesco performed his magic in a one-and-done draft last year. Telesco truly drafted the best available player, and it paid off.
Things are about to heat up!
RT, thanks for checking in!
Always appreciate your takes and fidelity here NY Raider! Grab your popcorn!
Bob pirate,
Nice blog Raider Take! Go Raidernation!!! Let's be positive and try to have big hopes for the 1st round pick! But I don't see the bold attitude the Raiders had in the draft! I want them to succeed but getting a T this high isn't a good move!
JEANTY!!!!!
Jeanty was best available player, just like Bowers last year. The guy is a TD machine. With Hunter, Carter and Graham off the board, Jeanty makes sense.
Now they need a stud WR!
Interesting that Sanders was there for the taking. Had the Raiders not signed Smith, Sanders would have been the Raiders QB next season.
If Sanders falls too far, do the Raiders trade up to get him?
Bob Pirate
Good pick ! but the Brady issue? I think we should give him some off time to let the old guys who know the draft lead the show. RB is good but not the Bo, LT or Barkley guys to dominate defenses but we needed more playmakers Brady needs or might be good as a QB scout.
This is the Raiders best pick since Khalil Mack! Ihave a feeling this is going to be a better draft than the 2014 draft
Raiders have a dilemma. With Sanders still on the board, they may have a tough choice to make.
On one hand, if they planned on drafting a QB in the 2nd round, Sanders is likely the guy, and they might even trade up to get him.
On the other hand, will they be able to pass on Sanders to take a WR or CB, which are more urgent needs.
The browns could make it all moot. They have two picks before the Raiders in the 2nd round. They could draft Sanders or trade a pick to another team who will. The Browns just made three QB moves, including re-signing Watson.
I'm probably in the camp that, if Sanders is there, take him. But getting a stud WR would have more impact on the 2025 Raiders.
Jeanty was a TD machine last year. That probably changes in the NFL, but his film shows he has tremendous balance and often runs by tacklers. But the NFL is bigger, faster and stronger. Still, we shouldn't have any doubt that the Raiders just upgraded the RB position in a big way.
With Bowers and Jeanty, the Raiders are sure rebuilding from the outside in, we need the core of the roster to catch up so that we don't waste their early career production. Bowers was insane, the Raiders were 4-13.
I think Shavon Revel or Aireonte Ersery (RT, Minnesota) are the best players in the 2nd Round. I'd be happy trading down, picking up more picks, and selecting one of these 2 players. I would also be happy with Sanders, don't get me wrong. At this point, I'm looking at need, and biggest impact. If we draft Sanders, I don't think he starts for a few years.
I think the Steelers trade up in the 2nd for Sanders. I think we go Defense or O-Line in the second. QB in the 3rd with Shough, and then O-Line/D-Line rest of the way. We need a RT and some guards and depth.
I still think one of the biggest steals in the Draft on O-Line is going to be USC's Jonah Monheim. Dude played every position on the O-Line, and can play all 3 interior positions (C, RG, LG). I think he would be an amazing pick to add depth, and eventually become a starter. I compare him to Feliciano.
I was surprised by how many DT and EDGE players went off the board last night. I felt a lot of those guys were reaches for the first round. James Pearce Jr? Shemar Stewart? Both at EDGE. Kenneth Grant (DT)? Walter Nolen (DT)? Then you had the Doncos drafting Jahdae Barron (CB/U Texas)? Wow, did they completely whiff on their pick.
The dumbest post/reaction I've seen about draft grades is from Underdog NFL on Twitter. He graded the Raiders a C- for selecting Jeanty.
I am going to give my grades on the first round from last night. The first time I've ever done this:
Titans - Cam Ward. Obvious A. This totally surprised me. I said earlier that Brian Callahan (the Head Coach) loves the traditional QB, and I thought they were going to grab one like Will Howard or Tyler Shough in later rounds. This is a great pick.
Jags - Travis Hunter. A. Again, great pick, especially if they let him play both sides.
Giants - Abdul Carter. A. Giants went with best available, and Carter adds to their tremendous defense.
Patriots - Will Campbell. B. Pats went for highest need here. They have someone to help protect Maye, but they need more.
Browns - Mason Graham. B Solid DT, and will help with the pass rush in Cleveland. Didn't think he was the best pick here. I really thought they were going to pick Jeanty.
RAAAAIIIIIIIDEEEEEERS! - Ashton Jeanty. A. This is a great pick, and I am glad he fell to us. I was hoping for him or Hunter to fall. Like I said earlier, this is the best pick since Khalil Mack; and I think with he and Bowers; we have 2 weapons comparable to Tomlinson and Gates, Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen, Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell, Maurice Drew-Jones and Fred Taylor.
Jets - Armand Membou. B. I was worried the Raiders might select him. Not a bad pick, but not a great pick either.
Panthers - Tet McMillan. B. I think he is overhyped at WR.
Saints - Kelvin Banks, Jr. B. Again, not a bad pick and it helps the Saints depleting O-Line; but not a great pick either.
Bears - Colston Loveland. D. This was not even a good pick, it was subpar.
49ers - Mykel Williams. B. Thought Jalon Walker would have been the better pick here.
Cowboys - Tyler Booker. D With Tyler Warren, Jalon Walker, Grey Zabel, some WRs and CBs still on the board, this was the second worst pick of the draft.
Dolphins - Kenneth Grant. A. Some had Grant over Mason Graham, extreme value pick here.
Colts - Tyler Warren. A. Again, he should have been taken when the Bears picked.
Falcons - Jalon Walker. A. Good pick for a team that really need to boost their trenches, and this is a great start for them.
Cardinals - Walter Nolen. C. Has some good upside, but there are a ton of questions about his work ethic.
Bengals - Shemur Stewart. C. I thought they could have bolstered their O-Line here with Grey Zabel, Josh Connerly, or Josh Simmons. They whiffed.
Seahawks - Grey Zabel. A. Great pick for this position. Thought he would have been gone earlier.
Bucs - Emeka Egbuka. C. Wow, they are loaded at WR and yet they chose another WR. Defense was a greater need, especially at LB.
Doncos - Jahdae Barron. F. This is the worst draft pick. Barron had a 3rd Round Grade because of his size even though he won the Jim Thorpe Award and was a Finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award (nation's top defender).
Steelers - Derrick Hampton. B. They are getting hammered for not selecting Sanders here; but Hampton is a solid pick.
Chargers - Omarion Hampton. A. This is a really good pick for the Chargers.
Packers - Matthew Golden. A. Good pick fills a need for Jordan Love.
Vikings - Donovan Jackson. B. Ok pick here, not much to say about it.
Giants - Jaxson Dart. C. I think Dart is overrated. I'm surprised they traded back into the first round to select him.
Falcons - James Pearce Jr. C. I'm surprised they traded back into the first round here for him. Not a first round talent.
Ravens - Malaki Starks. A This was a great pick for the Ravens, I was hoping he would fall to the second round, and the Raiders take him.
Lions - Tyleik Williams. D. Again, a subpar reach at DT here.
Redskins - Josh Connerly. A. Good pick, thought he'd been picked earlier.
Bills - Maxwell Hairston. B. Not a large CB, especially with Will Johnson, Shavon Revel, and Troy Amos on the board. Yes, he's talented, but was projected late 2nd early 3rd.
Eagles - Jihaad Campbell. A. Scary pick here. Eagles have a talented Defense, and it just got better.
Chiefs - Josh Simmons. A. Great need pick up
Epic post!
I don't want to point a finger at the roster, core or other, when the coaching was so bad last year. Luke Getsy was an epic fail by Antonio Pierce, which easily cost Pierce his job (not that Pierce needed help). Getsy was terrible in Chicago, and Pierce thought he'd do better with the Raiders? One of the worst coaching hires in the Raiders history... and that's saying a lot.
Also, allowing Josh Jacobs to walk was a huge mistake. Jacobs was affordable to the Raiders, but they misjudged White as Jacobs' replacement in another epic fail.
Raiders eventually sat James and shuffled the line around a little, and things got better. IMO, the Raiders have a O-line core with perhaps a little more help.
Also, we were without Wilkins all season, and we lost Bennett and others to injuries as well.
RB was a big need, and the Raiders found one in a big way. If they stay the course and draft best available in Rd 2, assuming that's either a WR or CB, this draft can really make sense.
But Sanders is a distraction. If they draft him, they better be right!
With Sanders still on the board, the Raiders traded back!
Wow! So they don't want Sanders, but why not take a WR/CB now?!
Traded back again. Stockpiling picks. Hope they are smart enough to use them wisely.
I wasn't a Sanders in the first round guy for sure, but maybe they should've taken a flyer on him deep in the third?
Bob Pirate
Hey! Since when did they dominate at DB that they can keep trading down and missing on highly rated DBs?
Bob Pirate
They need two starting corners and we need a DT! Carroll's is at the card table trading sports star cards, property, contracts and money trying to come out with big profits over the competition later in the game but he's missing on possible big wins of gold and gems for later w ins
Browns might not think they need a QB, but they do. Watson was not the answer last year, and then they doubled down on him. Funny, the Browns don't have a pick before Raiders in Rd 4. But the Giants do, and somebody could easily trade up.
Interestingly, Will Howard is still available. Raiders could certainly use a developmental QB. Does Chip Kelly think that little of his college QB who just won a national title?
But the Raiders are clearly ALL-IN with Geno Smith, and they look like they've been methodical in their drafting approach to help Smith do his job, by taking Jeanty, then trading back to stockpile picks which they used on a big WR, two O-linemen (and a fast CB).
So what's next? Good pass rushers have flown off the board. But the Raiders still need depth at DT, and there could be a couple sleepers out there. Also, a safety, and maybe another WR/CB.
On a side note, the Rams made a smart trade, getting the Falcons 1st rd pick next year. Rams have two 1st rd picks next year and they'll be looking for Stafford's eventual replacement. They will have the draft capital needed to trade for the 1st pick (probably cost three 1st rd picks) to draft Arch Manning. Maybe the Raiders see next year as better opportunity for their own QB of the future.
Yet, if Sanders is still there for the Raiders pick in the 4th (which will be the Raiders 6th pick in the draft), how can they pass on him, again? Right? What am I missing? Did Deon Sanders threaten to prank call the facility every day if they draft his son?
Seems like whoever drafts Sanders now will be getting perhaps the biggest bargain of the 2025 draft. Again, what am I missing here?
Sanders is said to have a businesslike approach when the pressure is on. That's what you want from your QB. Cold as ice, tough as nails.
I guess, we'll see.
Raiders had zero interest in drafting Sanders in any round of the draft. In fact, it looks like they may forego drafting a QB entirely.
Who saw that coming?
It bodes well for AOC, who is the clear #2.
Pirate Bob - so many holes to fill, so few picks (though we've had a lot). NY, I think they should have taken a flyer on Sanders, he's boxed in as a 4th/5th round pick, if he's trouble then you can cut him, but it's possible he's learned something and could be a way better QB than O'Connell
Raiders drafted QB Cam Miller (ND) with their last pick. Miller is undersized and was torched in his scouting report.
Why bother?!
Shouldn't they continue to select players that make sense? They still have to put together a list of undrafted free agents. Did they lose track and decide to waste their last pick in the draft on a bad QB?
I have some reservations about this draft. Jeanty seemed smart but trading back twice before making another pick left better players for other teams to choose draft. Stockpiling picks isn't always a smart move. With good scouting, they should have been move aggressive with what they had.
Just my opinion.
NY, I thought Cam Miller was interesting too, especially with Quinn Ewers on the board. Both are pretty much the same prospect.
Overall, I grade them an A+. 9 of their 12 picks can start this year. Jeanty, Bech, Porter, Rogers, Grant, Thornton Jr, Pegues, Hemingway, and Lindenberg
Geez, that's very generous, IMO, Nate. At the very least, it doesn't say much for the Raiders roster prior to the draft.
The more I think about it, the more ridiculous I think it was that the Raiders didn't draft Sanders with a late 4th round pick (they had three picks in the 4th round), nor did they draft Will Howard with a 6th round pick.
Raiders drafted two no-name QBs in the 6th round when they had Will Howard right there for the taking. Will Howard just won the college championship with Chip Kelly as his coach. Why doesn't drafting Howard in the 6th round qualify as a no-brainer?
Very disappointing.
I have no idea how well they drafted. Aside from Jeanty, their picks aren't exactly household names. IMO, they will be lucky to get 2-3 immediate starters from this group. My guess, Jeanty and Bech. Porter is not a starter, at least not yet, but he can help on ST. The only way Grant or Thornton start is if Miller holds out longer.
The Raiders went for quantity over quality, and that may hurt them. Perhaps they lack scouting to have enough confidence to make good choices with high draft picks they had.
The QB spree in the 6th looks like a bad joke. I think we just got punked, but what do I know.
This from Vic Tafur
"The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Miller was the runner-up to the Walter Payton Award, for the top offensive player in FCS. Miller can throw on the run (3,251 yards and 33 touchdowns, with four interceptions) and find the endzone when he scrambles (12 touchdowns)."
He also ran a 4.3 40 and has a 41 inch vertical jump
Vinnie B wrote:
"QB Cam Miller threw for 9,721 yards and 81 TD's in college.
But this stands out to me: He also ran for 2,277 yards and 48 touchdowns."
A few others are reporting that Cam Miller was Tom Brady's pick. They are also signing undrafted players like CB Mello Dotson of Kansas. Good signing right there
Hey Brady! Be a student first and GM in a year or two
Bob Pirate
IDK, Nate. I'm on the outside looking in, so I'll preface by saying, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. My initial reaction is more global than it is informed. With that said, there's a certain amount of common sense that comes to play, IMO.
First off, clearly, the Raiders went for quantity over quality. You can say they got both, but did they? They forewent a high second round pick (practically a 1st rounder) to drop back 21 slots in the second round. There were several WRs, DTs, and others selected ahead of the Raiders pick. We won't know until we know, but is the Raiders scouting suddenly that good that they can skip practically an entire round and still find gold with Bech? Maybe!
They were channeling Al Davis. WRs/DBs were big, strong and fast. Maybe that's good, but there was a clear pattern in those selections.
They waited until fairly late in the draft to select a DT, then took two back-to-back. We saw that play out two years in a row with McDaniels. All four of his late DT picks were busts. They had opportunity as late as the 4th round to pick a consensus DT, Joshua Farmer... who the Patriots grabbed.
As for the QB spree in the 6th, Cam Miller was the second QB picked. Apparently, the Raiders whiffed on Mellott and decided they'd let Brady make a token pick?
Again, I don't know. That much I do know. However, from the outside looking in, it seemed to me the Raiders made one true consensus best pick with Jeanty, then winged the rest of the draft, beginning with avoiding what should have been a high second round pick.
Then, late in the draft, it looks like they just gave up, taking 2 QBs, right after passing on the National Championship winning QB and a protégé of their OC. I respect their choice to NOT pick a QB, but to pass on Howard in the 6th round then immediately draft two other QBs... that had disappointment written all over it. I can only imagine the high-fives and fist bumps after those picks being reminiscent of Mark Davis celebrating Raiders late season victories that pushed them out of getting the top pick in the draft. Hollow!
I hope my global view is wrong. We'll see.
I've taken some time to read grades and scouting. My reaction is pretty much the same. I see lots of hype, but that's pretty standard for past drafts as well.
Jeanty is a slam dunk. Raiders improved at RB.
Bech is likely to have an immediate impact on a thin WR corp. Thorton Jr. is interesting because of his size and speed.
The OL and DL picks are depth, which is fine but other options were available. None are likely to break the starting lineup.
Porter can be a standout ST player due to his quickness and speed (4.3 guy).
Cam Miller looks interesting, but he's not going to bump AOC, who is quietly now a vet backup QB with starter experience. Mellott was a wasted pick.
Nothing groundbreaking! Jeanty and Bech have the most to offer right away.
Bob Raider
Rumor is they will use 3-4 defense. Maybe they should've drafted more LBs. Some nice DLs but sometimes they seem like it's an obsession to trade high picks away. Who picked the QBs? Might kick butt later in their careers but seems they think they can find good players in later rounds but give away high picks in the top of the rounds.
Could be the Raiders might try Cam Miller as a running back, with his break away speed and all. And if he can catch ball out of the back field, he and Jeanty would make a great 3rd down combo. Just a maybe thought.
Mellot is going to be a WR, much like what the Pats did with Edelman (who was a QB coming out of college).
Miller will compete for a QB spot. I think if he learns to thread the needle, he will win out. Let's do some comparison:
Geno Smith coming out of West Virginia, drafted in the 2nd Round by the Jets:
67.4-Completion %, 11,662 Yards, 98 TDs, 21 INTs, 342 Rushing Yards, 4 Rushing TDs.
Cam Miller:
69.2-Completion %, 9720 Yards, 81 TDs, 19 INTs, 2277 Rushing Yards, 48 Rushing TDs.
Cannot say that Cam Miller is going to be nothing, and that it was a wasted pick. Chip Kelly is a QB whisperer too, look what he did for Will Howard who transferred to Ohio St from Kansas St.
The knock being reported on Shedeur is two-fold. #1 - He wasn't taking his interviews with teams seriously. His favorite answer was "Watch the film" even though he was being asked specific questions about what was seen on his film.
#2 - He wasn't showing passion for the game. He was content with his talent and giving a vibe that he didn't need to put in grinding work to improve. Attitude over talent is a big thing. Some scouts were saying that he wasn't interested in discussing film, reading defense/WR routes, talking about adjustments and improvements to his game. He gave off a persona that he didn't need to improve. He also told teams if they weren't willing to change their team franchise and culture, not to draft him.
Raiders made some excellent picks, don't believe me, go read what others are saying about their draft, and how they graded the Raiders. In my opinion, they had the 2nd best draft this year; the first? IMO, only the Baltimore Ravens had a better draft.
My Top 5 teams who had the best Draft:
1. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens had some great picks from Starks, Emery Jones, Teddye Buchanon, Aeneas Peebles (actually stole them from the Raiders), LaJohnty Wester, and Garrett Dellinger. The Ravens just became potential AFC Champs if these drafted rookies produce, and nothing suggests that they won't.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: I've talked enough about their draft. This draft is better than the 2014 draft, and may turn out to be the best draft in their history (which I think '82 is their best draft, for what its worth).
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: Quietly, the Steelers got overlooked and nasty this draft. Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson, Jack Sawyer, Yahya Black, and Will Howard (who I think is the most underrated QB in the draft). These guys are going to be brawlers again.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Like the Steelers, the Eagles just got nastier. Jihaad Campbell with their first pick, nasty. Ty Robinson with their third pick, Drew Kendall will start at Center for them over Cam Jurgens, and Mac Williams will be grinding probably at the Nickel slot for them.
5. Houston Texans: They grabbed some help for Stroud. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be great targets out of Iowa St. Woody Marks coming out of the backfield, or may move to slot WR. They got much needed protection in Aireonte Ersery a Tackle that I really liked; and then the underrated CB from USC Jaylin Smith and the underrated S from Penn St Jaylen Reed.
Nate, not for nothing, but if Chip Kelly did his whisperer thing with Will Howard, why didn't the Raiders draft Will Howard?
I'm in agreement with Bob Raider (about the draft).
The Raiders stockpiled picks at the beginning of the draft at the expense of not selecting from the best players available early in the 2nd round... foregoing 21 slots before making their pick.
Then it appears they had a complete brain fart at the end of the draft, taking QBs like they were DBs. I'm willing to accept that Cam Miller might be an exceptional athlete worthy of the pick, but Mellott isn't going to make the team as a WR. Who was the last "project player" that stuck for the Raiders? Remember Lynn Bowden? 3rd pick didn't even make the team. (And if the Raiders drafted a DT to hand the ball to in short yardage situations, that's a mistake.)
Did you see the Raiders also signed an undrafted FA QB. They now have six QBs! They only get 90 spots on their initial roster, and no team will carry six QBs...
I read several reviews giving the Raiders high grades for their draft, but I'm not feeling it. They excelled with Jeanty (BPA) and might have found a gem with Bech. They may have found value later in the draft, but IMO everyone else is on the bubble.
But I'm no scout. I just call 'em like I see 'em.
Bob Raider
Nate
Hey Bob Raider, what's happening? Welcome to the site.
Ghost, all indications by the beat writers (Hondo, Vic Tafur [who just announced he has been reassigned to cover the 49ers after 15 years covering Raiders], Vinnie B, Your Boy Q, and others) are saying Cam Miller is a QB that Spytek and Carroll really liked, and he will have the opportunity to compete at that position.
NY, I understand that there was not a lot of flash; but the Raiders had an excellent draft. Again, out of the 12 picks, they have 7 to 9 that will be potential starters, and at least 6-7 that will impact the team this year! Rogers and Grant are more than "backups", they are brawlers that have a strong chance of being starters; and are going to be powerhouses with JPJ and Kolton Miller.
Nate, I appreciate your optimism but I'm not sure how you squeeze 7-9 starters from this draft.
Safe to assume, the Raiders DL starters are set. They're certainly getting paid to start!
Pretty sure I read that Porter was only briefly a starter in college. He's a good pickup but he's being pegged as a ST and rotational player during his first year in the NFL.
IMO, the O-line is pretty set. Miller, Parham, JPJ, Merridith, Glaze/Munford. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I haven't read any "grounded" articles suggesting any of these guys lose their job to Rogers or Grant, two tackles from the middle of the draft, at least one of which will be converted to guard.
Thorton Jr has some good and bad reviews out there (bad hands issue). He can help stretch a defense, but Geno Smith is not going to be throwing 25+ yards a lot (which is Thorton's claim to college fame). Smith's bread and butter will be short to medium range, just like it was for Rich Gannon. Bech is far more suited for that.
Safe to say five of the six QBs the Raiders currently have will not be starting. Most of them will not make the team (at any position).
Jeanty and Bech are gold! Everyone else is pure speculation, and they will have to beat out experienced vet(s)..., not that it can't happen.
Raiders took the Noah's Ark approach to the draft; (2) WRs, (2) QBs, (2) DL, (2) OL. Their draft was geared toward adding bodies. Maybe that's a smart approach, but it lacks confidence at any one position choice (except RB).
It's a new regime. They are loading the roster, throwing players against a wall to see who sticks. They have no identity right now.
My thinking is, Patrick Graham lost the middle and back side of his defense and instead of loading up on DBs and LBs, the Raiders were loading up on QBs. Project players seldom (never!) work for the Raiders.
It's obviously a numbers game for the Raiders this year. But they clearly made some interesting picks.
There is still Free Agency too, and it wouldn't surprise me if they have something up their sleeves still. I think they can use Thorton for the medium range, slants/posts, etc; and use his big body to get through the middle with his speed. Bad hand issue? More like he had a QB who consistently underthrew him issue. Yes, he can stretch the field; but there are different ways to stretch the field, especially if we make him more like Jerry Rice type player.
I don't think Glaze/Munford are sure things at RT. I don't think Meredith is a sure thing at G. I think JPJ, Parham, and Cappa are a pretty good bet they will be starters at Center and Guard, and I think Kolton Miller is set at LT, unless he is injured. Glaze did better at RT than Munford; but both really struggled. Munford more than Glaze, and both dealt with injuries last season too. Caleb Rogers can play anywhere on the line. Saw him play at Tech this last year when I went to visit my daughter, and he is a BEAST! The film on Grant is nasty too, and he is going to bring some competition at RT. Here is a video from two non-Raiders fans before the draft:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWtNYxZ3MWk
After an initial push, the Raiders almost seem disinterested in free agency. Maybe that will change now that the draft is over... or during cutdowns.
Pretty sure Meredith scored high with PFF. He's only a 3rd year player and not well known, but I wouldn't assume he's going to get pushed out of the starting lineup by a converted college tackle. IMO, Meredith might be the best G on the team. I concede RT might still be open, however, both Glaze and Munford have a lot of snaps under their belts and they will be playing with a better QB. Again, I've read many pundits say the O-line will be set by vets on the roster, at least initially.
I don't want to put words in your mouth (I think I know what you mean), but saying Thorton Jr and Jerry Rice "type player" in the same sentence might be a bridge too far, no matter the context. Drops are part of the game, and I'm sure they are not counting bad passes as drops. Nobody's perfect.
IMO, offseason is a time when teams like the Raiders look their best. Yet, how many times have we seen this process mismanaged? I certainly don't want that to happen, but I'm also not buying any more fool's gold.
Did the Raiders get better? Sure, but so did 31 other teams, most likely.
What really impressed me is how the Eagles appeared to improve their defense from the last slot in the draft.
I'm cautiously all-in. It's a big lift for Pete Carroll.
Bob Raider,
Hey Nate, I'm new here. You must be a regular here! How yaw doin? They didn't say they would make a big splash this year in the draft but are instead loading up on draft picks I like the Beach and Jeanty picks and I see we didn't pick aot of name stars but I think we have more than two guys. S. Carolina DE may be a good player maybe a few others but I'm confused about the QB plans. Are they looking for their future starter in the draft or going with next year's draft?
Bob Raider, welcome to Raider Take! Yes, I'm a regular here, and have been since the early 2000's. I've been a Raiders fan since 1980 (I was 6), and started watching baseball, football, and basketball that year. One of the things we like to know, is how you became a Raiders fan? I was born into it, as my dad was a Raiders dude. I passed that on to my son as well.
I think every team is going to try and line up to draft Arch Manning (if he doesn't stay a 4th year). Outside of that, not much in the QB department; so I think they are sticking to their guns with Geno Smith and Company. I encourage you to you tube some of the other draft picks. Yes, maybe not "well known" players, but they will be beasts in the League. Maxx Crosby was not a well known name coming into the draft (drafted in the 4th), and has made a name for himself. There are so many HoFers drafted in late rounds:
Tom Brady (6th), Cliff Branch (4th), John Stallworth (4th), Cris Carter (4th), Andre Reed (4th), Dick Lebeau (5th), Kevin Greene (5th), Zach Thomas (5th), Terrell Davis (6th), Bo Jackson (7th), Shannon Sharpe (7th), Richard Dent (8th), Johnny Unitas (9th Round), Roger Staubach (10th), George Blanda (12th), Deacon Jones (14th), Bart Starr (17th), Roosevelt Brown (27th).
Let's not forget those who were never drafted:
Jim Otto, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Willie Brown, Drew Pearson, Warren Moon, John Randle, Kurt Warner. So it is not a matter of where you were drafted, or if you were drafted; it's what you do with it!
NY, scouts that I know are saying Thornton's ceiling has potential to be comparable to Randy Moss, so using him like the 9ers did Jerry Rice on deep posts and slants in the middle, is not too crazy of a concept.
Nate, in Raiders' tradition (channeling Al Davis), Thorton was selected for his measurables, tall and fast. He only had like 65 catches his entire college career, which Bech matched last year. Tre Tucker had 66 catches last year, and it would likely be Tucker's role that Thorton would look to displace.
Love your optimism but I'm gonna wait and see if he can make the team. I expect he will, but he's unlikely to make a big impact coming off 60-something career receptions over four years.
He's another developmental project for the Raiders. Picking players like Thorton is in their DNA, no matter how many times it fails.
You can list all those great players selected in middle and late rounds, but that's lightning in a bottle stuff. You forgot Rod Martin (12th round). Also, Bo Jackson was a two-sport athlete. Most of those players are from a foregone era.
I'm not denying the Raiders received good grades for their draft. I'm just scratching my head wondering why.
For what it's worth, and it's worth repeating, the AFC West is loaded with the best coaches and some of the best QBs in the NFL.
With that said, hiring Pete Carroll was certainly a positive for the Raiders, but Carroll has his work cut out for him. Did anyone else notice the Raiders allowed several key veterans on their defense to walk in favor of cheaper replacements? Spillane and Moehrig had career years last year.
Every team is looking to improve. The Raiders "improvements" need to be better than other teams to make that happen for themselves.
IMO, drafting Shedeur Sanders late in the 4th round would have been a worthy risk, with zero urgency to get him game reps. Sanders was a top-20 college talent. The Browns had 5 QBs before their owner apparently stepped in and drafted Sanders himself. Seemed like a no-brainer for a QB needy team, even for a team with 5 QBs.
Sanders would have been a developmental player worth drafting. Say what you will about Deon and whatever excuse might be out there for not drafting Shedeur, it's all just noise, IMO.
So when I look at Nate's list of middle and late round picks who became stars in the NFL, IMO, someone like Shedeur Sanders stands out with that potential, far above Thorton Jr.
When the Raiders passed on Sanders I was fooled into believing they didn't want to draft a QB. Okay, I respect that. Then they drafted two QBs.
Personally, I'm very anxious to see how much better Mellott and Miller are than Shedeur Sanders. That might be the true test of how smart the Raiders were in this draft.
NY, for what its worth, Thornton played at Tennessee where he had a QB who constantly under threw his WRs, Thornton included. I think most are giving them good grades, even with developmental players, because the Raiders FINALLY have a coaching staff that will develop them. Carroll has a great history of making stars out of players in middle to late rounds.
With that said, I also like Shedeur, so does Maxx Crosby. I wasn't happy we didn't pull his name. For whatever reason, the owners wanted to show him and his dad up. Listen to his interview on Maxx Crosby's podcast "The Rush". Shedeur even talks about his team interviews, and what he says seems to be true with what is being reported, that maybe he didn't take them seriously and answer questions. He just wants people to see his talent. If that is the case, he is wrong. Teams want to see if you have the ability to think under pressure, and how you respond under pressure.
I do think he has Mahomes' like talent; just not sure if it will be seen in Cleveland (where QBs go to die). I'm willing to bet that either:
A) Cleveland won't play him and he will want a trade.
B) They won't pay him what he wants, and he will want a trade.
C) They put him on the Practice Squad to be signed by another team, or
D) He's outright cut.
I think there is still an opportunity for the Raiders to pick him up, they love players with a chip on their shoulder to prove everyone wrong.
NY not sure why a late round flyer on a QB would trouble you, teams have a history of taking QBs and using them in different roles Kordell Stewart, Edelman and Taysom hill to name a couple, heck even Marcus Allen was a top QB in High School and was the 3string Qb for the Raiders.
I don’t know how this draft will shake out but this Raiders rebuild looks very similar to what Spytek has done in the past with the Broncos and the Buccaneers. I know the got HOF QBs to play for them in the case of manning he was breaking down physically when they won their SB. BTW Raiders just picked up a local kid Laki Tasi… project since he is young only 21 but a true man child 6.6 348lb he was heavier but has been working it down. Can’t wait for the season!
Hey, Aussie! I'm only questioning the logic. It's more than a flyer on Mellett (who played QB and who the Raiders list as WR). It's dismissing the use of a late round pick on a Top-20 talent in Shedeur Sanders, then drafting two QBs immediately after. That doesn't seem odd? Raiders will look pretty stupid if Sanders does what many believe he can, and it wouldn't have cost the Raiders more than a late 4th rounder to find out.
Raiders signed ~12 undrafted free agents after the draft, many of whom play positions that the Raiders needed to stack. Did none of those players warrant consideration in the 6th round? Were we instead drafting guys to make trick plays? I'm not trying to be sarcastic. IDK, maybe the Raiders plan to run the wildcat.
I think they had a decent draft, but I wonder if "decent" is good enough. They could have done better... maybe by simply taking the no-risk option that was right in front of them.
I think we forget too easily that we've watched this play out before, with folks we thought were the "right one" to make the Raiders great, again.
I'm just questioning the logic by a team with so little room for error.
They took the BPA with their top pick. That's what I ask for from the beginning. So, I guess I got my wish.
Nate, I don't think it was a coincidence, or a matter of underthrows (although, that's an interesting concept). The Raiders were clearly focusing on player profile, e.g., size and speed, perhaps more than anything else. They went through Raiders HQ and found Al's playbook... for better or worse.
If they get their wish, Raiders will be taller and faster than other teams. Not for nothing, but we've tried that.
Now, they're signing heavy... with the rugby player. No complaints. That's a worthwhile signing.
But at least we got something done with the offense! No more depending on the passing game to win games! But I thought we had a inside edge finding a QB in the draft? Maybe Brady got it right with Mallet and Miller and one of them may be a running accurate QB but I was a little confused and shocked we didn't pick a name QB. And is there a place for O'Connell? IDK..we need defense a d so e help on the defense
IMO, Thorton shouldn't be compared by media to Rice or Moss, or any top WR. Justin Jefferson had 111 catches as a junior (final year) at college. That's what a top WR does.
IMO, and his stats back me up, Thorton is a project player who brings size and speed combination to the Raiders. He'll be fighting for a roster spot and could easily find himself on the practice squad.
Bech was the Raiders WR pick, and even he is not on top level. His strength might be slot WR, which could leave the Raiders without a second wideout. Perhaps Tre Tucker...?
The Raiders have often taken flyers on project players, but this seemed to be a flyer heavy draft (just not for a Top-2 QB).
-tall/fast WR with a dearth of college production.
-OT to be converted to G
-DT who carries the football on short yardage.
-QB who played QB last year in college but is to be converted to WR
-2nd QB in back-to-back picks
-tweener safety who's listed as a LB.
Sure, that's oversimplified. But all these guys were scouted and drafted. It will be interesting to see who sticks.
I'm reading lots of writers talking up Thorton Jr. One article says he will be in the mix for starting role. Another said other teams were trying to trade up for him before the Raiders selected him in the 4th.
I certainly hope he lights up the NFL in a Raiders uniform.
With that said, 26 catches last year and +/- 65 catches his entire four years in college is speculation drafting. But It's sounding more and more like a good risk for the Raiders to have taken.
Sorry all that I have been away, busy season in my life with High School baseball playoffs; but unfortunately for my son, that has come to an end this last week. He faced off against Halletsville, which is ranked #6 in 3A schools in Texas, and #10 overall in the state, in a best of 3 series. My son pitched game 1 and held them to 2 runs (1 earned), 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk in his 4th complete game (7 innings in High School); but we came up short 2-1. We had a lot of college scouts at that game, mostly for Halletsville team, but they got the shock of their life with my son, and many has reached out to him. Super proud, and I'm always glad when people underestimate him.
NY, as excited as I am about our offseason and draft, the bottom line is I am still in the mode of "Just Prove It, Baby!" I think we have seen it for the last 20-25 years with all the offseason hype, only to fall way short of hype and expectations during the season. Again, it doesn't take away from me that we had an awesome draft. Nor does it take away that they have a lot to do. If the season ended at the draft, we'd be champions. The other amazing thing that Pete Carroll and John Spytek are doing, is continually building the front office, in a HUGE way. The team will only thrive as the organization and front office thrives; and they are bringing in guys who believe in what the organization is trying to do.
But, in the end, they still have to Just Prove It, Baby!
Clearly, dreams are made during the offseason.
I was mistaken excited last off-season following a great run to end the 2023 season, then brought back to earth by the choice of Luke Getsy to run the Raiders' offense (a stupid decision which cost Pierce his job).
Even in the face of proven coaching (remember, Pierce's staff was stacked with former HCs), the Raiders had no answers. So, excuse my cynicism. To wit, no offense to the current regime, but we've seen this play out before. It's incredibly familiar. We even had a Super Bowl winning coach take over the team before. We've had impressive drafts, signed top free agents. It's all been done.
The unfortunate truth is that the Raiders are caught in a division which having a Championship winning HC, an all-star QB and even a solid defense are par for the course. So, unfortunately, I see the Pete Carroll-led Raiders with Geno Smith at QB (and significant turnover on defense) as the underdogs, by a wide margin.
Yes, we shall see!
Cowboys just traded for WR Pickens from the Steelers, but it looks like it cost them a lot of draft capital.
32 teams vying for coaches and players from the same pool of college and pro talent. Northing comes easy in the NFL. The 2025 Raiders are proof.
HC: The Raiders wanted Ben Johnson and got Pete Carroll.
QB: The Raiders wanted Matthew Stafford and got Geno Smith.
They bargain-shopped key positions in the middle and back of their defense, losing Spillane and Moehrig at the top of their games.
They drafted Jeanty, but he was reported to be 2nd or 3rd on their board. Raiders apparently wanted Carter, which was never going to happen. But it demonstrates compromise which is an integral part of the NFL.
The one choice they had this year which they did not need to compromise they elected to avoid like a bad cold. The Raiders passed on Shedeur Sanders 7 times in the draft. That's no accident, that's a blatant act of avoidance.
It seems shortsighted for a guy with his pedigree and determination to be good at his craft. But now Tom Brady is telling media he was not involved in the process of evaluating Sanders.
So, we're to believe Brady did a full evaluation on Cam Miller, who the Raiders drafted in the 6th on Brady's recommendation, but he never evaluated Sanders?
Really?!
I'm just seeing this... pic of the day!
https://www.raiders.com/news/ashton-jeanty-journey-in-the-nfl-marcus-allen-jim-plunkett-fred-biletnikoff-raiders-hall-of-famers
Come on, NY. Most everything you posted is categorically false.
The Raiders requested an interview with Ben Johnson, but Ben Johnson and his agent both have said they were never interested in the Raiders job; but didn't want to skip any options. The Raiders have never said Ben Johnson was their guy, but local media blew that up when Ben agreed to a sit down with Tom Brady. One article can be found here:
https://www.chicitysports.com/bears-ben-johnson-las-vegas-raiders-interview
The bottom line, the Raiders interviewed a lot of people, and continue to do so, as they look to build a top-notch football organization. I'd rather have Pete Carroll than Ben Johnson, who never wanted to be here (his words, not mine).
The Raiders, Steelers, Browns, and the Giants were rumored teams looking to trade for Matthew Stafford. Sport's Illustrated says the Raiders and Giants were both willing to extend him for 2 years, $100+ million contract; and he turned it down to stay with the Rams. But if he was still under contract, how could the Raiders and Giants offer him a contract without a trade in place? I don't buy the report, I think these teams were interested in a trade, but the Rams were not willing to depart with Stafford, and why would they?
So to say we missed out on him is not really a fair assessment, based on a "rumored" report by Sport's Illustrated.
Brady and Shedeur Sanders are close. Brady has helped mentor Shedeur and the two are close. I think there are several issues with the fact that he never evaluated him. Yes, he did. But there are underlying issues of his interview with the team that are being rumbled about that include how he was unwilling to answer questions, his dad was already demanding big $$, Shedeur giving the impression he wasn't going to put in the work, etc. But Shedeur to the Raiders still may happen, as now there are rumblings the Browns may cut him before Training Camp and Preseason, and the Raiders can pick him up as a free agent. Not worried about why teams skipped over him, there is a reason. Oh, by the way, Maxx Crosby is also a huge fan of Shedeur, go check out his podcast "The Rush". What we know, is something happened with Shedeur that didn't set well with the football operation guys, and they didn't draft him; but they all have a relationship with him and Deion, and don't want to throw him under the bus, they are keeping it in house where it belongs. Unlike what Tom Telesco seemingly did to Jacobs (listen to Will Compton's podcast "Bussin' with the boys"). Dude had a reporter on the phone trying to record his conversation with Jacobs, and Crosby witnessed it. People assume it was McDaniels and Zeigler, which it could have been, but he was trying to sign his 5th year option when Telesco took over.
Spytek came out and said Jeanty was their guy, and if Jeanty was there, they were taking him, but didn't think he'd get past Jacksonville, and when they traded up, they thought he was gone. Pete Carroll loves big backs (Marshawn, Reggie Bush, LenDale White), and was impressed by Jeanty. Excited to see what he does in Chip Kelly's offense.
Bob Raider
Raider Nates looking at the story positively and in line with stories and facts while New York is asking questions about the '25 season with some problems and questions with the off program and also has stories with some facts like Nate and they both have good facts. Nate- Raiders whiffed a lot but also couldn't get all the trades they wanted,. NY- Raiders are.doung good making a better offense but then made heads watching moves not trading for more defensive help or being greedyet and getting a big name WR and not drafting more defensive help
Nate, we can agree on the front end of your post. I can see the Ben Johnson story got blown up. You say they interviewed a lot of people? Remind me who else the Raiders interviewed for the HC position. We can take Ben Johnson off that "long" list.
That's been my biggest criticism of Mark Davis since he took over, he doesn't know what due diligence is.
He fixated on Jack Del Rio (didn't he fly to Denver to court him?), then man-crushed on Jon Gruden (signing him to an unprecedented 10-year $100M deal). He was smitten with Josh McDaniels and doubled down with ex-Patriot Dave Ziegler as GM. In his transition from Mc-Ziegler, Davis had an opportunity to interview Jim Harbaugh. I haven't read a single article that suggests Davis even had a phone conversation with Harbaugh (maybe he did). There were very few, if any, other "viable" candidates given formal interviews during this entire period of multiple transitions.
Enter Pete Carroll. Okay, Carroll has chops, for sure. But remind me who else (under age 74 worthy of being Raiders HC) was interviewed?
Mark Davis shoots from the hip, and he's not a very good shot.
Pete Carroll was a tremendous coach at one of the best recruiting schools in the country. He coached the Seahawks (with Russell Wilson in his prime) to a SB win. But he stalled a bit in Seattle (with Smith at QB) and retired as HC.
IMO, Carroll has brought energy and life to the Raiders org. during the off-season (when we all get to dream of better days ahead). And maybe Geno Smith has matured as a QB (ala Rich Gannon), but there's no escaping the Raiders circumstances. They are stuck in a division which they are decidedly the underdog and they currently have no identity.
I don't think that's just my opinion. I'd love to be the eternal optimist that many fans are, and maybe the law of averages will someday catch up to the Raiders, but they're still the Raiders... an organization stuck in neutral (if I'm being polite), or an org which can't escape the dysfunction of ownership. Mark Davis has taken on his father's M.O., firing regimes as fast as he hires them.
Hopefully, Pete Carroll will last his contract term and steer us from oblivion.
WRT Shedeur Sanders, lots of speculation out there. It's all a guess. The facts are simple. The Raiders passed on him 7 times in the 2025 draft. Only time will tell if that was smart. Right now, it seems a bit shortsighted not to take a flyer on the guy with their 7th pick... who some experts thought was a Top-2 QB in the draft.
IDK, seems like it takes too much guesswork and gyration to make sense of that.
Raiders have already signed Jeanty... and they are paying him the 6th largest RB contract and 10th highest annual average in the NFL.
Huh? What happened to rookie salary structure? Looks like it got a big increase for 2025. But it's great for the Raiders, who get a new life at RB position post-Jacobs, for considerably less money.
And what's up with Josh Jacobs trash talking the Raiders. He's become toxic. He made his own decision and should just keep his mouth shut, IMO.
I guess to answer my own question, Jeanty got #6 pick money, which happens to be very high for a RB. #6 picks more often go to Edge, CB, QB, etc., which inherently make higher salary than RBs. It's still notably cheaper than Jacobs, and without the noise of Jacobs constantly complaining.
Derek Carr Retired! Walked away from $30M
The guy was never afforded a defense. That's why he's among league leaders in come from behind wins. But too often he didn't get the chance because his defenses failed him.
I'm sure he'll be comfortable! Maybe he'll become an announcer and make that $30M back.
Bob Raider
We may be underdogs but at least we have a veteran crew running the team. We passed on big name players and traded down in draft but let's see if it was a good plan. On the other hand NY we got offense spark a and found a QB to work in but we look like a young team with a ways long ways to go to be a playoff team Brady picked a QB but it wasn't the shocking big pick we thought we'd see and the picks aren't unknowns that get you excited but unknowns that are well...nice s d good oicks. Both Nate and NY have good points and some questions.Dallas taking big chances and making big moves..suddenly, Jones wants to go to the playoffs. And Sanders they said may be let go by the Browns? I don't think so.
Hi NY,
Here are the potential HC who Vic Tafur reported on
the Raiders interviewed Carroll, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera in person. Saleh and Rivera are diverse, so Las Vegas has satisfied the Rooney Rule and is free to hire a head coach.
There are three other candidates who the Raiders have interviewed virtually: Glenn, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
So not so much just shooting from the hip, and the fact he hired a consultant firm to assist was a big change for Mark.
Aussie Raider
Thanks, Aussie Raider. I had forgotten the list. What I remember is the Raiders had the earliest opportunity to start the process and were quickly surpassed by other teams, like the Jets, who interviewed far more candidates.
Sure, other teams may not enjoy success with their HC choices, but there has to be a process of learning about candidates and selecting the best... from the best (something the Raiders have provably fallen short too many times).
Inasmuch as due diligence had some life in this recent cycle, it seemed completely void in previous cycles, as I mentioned, as far back as Jack Del Rio.
Pete Carroll is legit. I'm not disappointed to have him, but the Raiders may quickly be without a contingency plan, again. Carroll has 2-3 years to change the Raiders from being perennial losers to perennial contenders. Is that even doable in such a short window? I guess that notion needed to be evaluated too as part of the hiring process.
Meanwhile, Mark Davis has paid some big HC contracts, something Al Davis would never have done. Yet here we are.
Go Pete Carroll... Go Raiders!
Derek Carr retired, after playing all of last season with a shoulder injury, and now can't seem to get right; and then on top of that, his wife had a miscarriage. It also seems like Kellen Moore was about to give him the Josh McDaniel's treatment too, take away his play calling ability and show him the door.
DC went to several doctors, and they all said the same thing, surgery and you will miss 6 months (the entire season). So he retired, and gave the Saints money back so they could find a replacement. He did what no other team would do for him, the right thing. Classy dude! I wonder how much different things would be if he didn't snap his leg in 2016.
Say what you want about DC, I know a lot of Raider "fans" do not like him, he gave 100% every time on the field, and kept us in a position to win. I think we all said it here on this site when Josh showed him the door, that Josh put the franchise back 5 years without a solid QB to replace DC. Not sure Smith is the guy, but I guess we will find out. Derek, I hope you learn about this site and come conversate with us; best wishes in retirement.
Carr is the Raiders all-time leading passer.
Yes sir, NY. I think he will go down as one of the top 4 in Raiders' history, behind Stabler, Gannon, Plunkett. His overall record with the Raiders was 63-79, 0-1 in the Playoffs, and 77-92 career record. I know Raiders' fans who are bitter with him, as if it were his fault he had 6 different Head Coaches with the Raiders in 9 years, and 4 different Coordinators. He made everyone around him better, and it takes a team to win. Sometimes the team effort was there, and sometimes it crumbled.
One thing for sure, with DC we knew he always put us in a position to win. Yes, something changed after he snapped his stick in 2016; but he still came out and gave it his all; even when McDummy gave up on him. I still believe they would have won the Super Bowl in 2016.
We can all point to mistakes he made, but overall, the mistakes of the organization to give him stability are what prevented him from showing us his complete potential. At the end of the day, whatever failure we put on Derek rests solely on Mark Davis and his merry-go-round coaching staff for not building around him and Khalil Mack.
Bob Raider
Shout out to Derrick Carr!- you were a gift. soldier and a Raider!- Thanks for you work!
Bob Raider
The Raiders may be a running team with Jeanty and Mortart and they'll use a zone blocking scheme. They ell have a short, middle field passing game trying to hide Meyers and hitting Bowers and Meyer in middle and slant passes. It will be fun but the OL isn't ready and they can't keep Smith in the pocket ll the time so we will not be a playoff offense. But the defense won't be able to get us into the playoffs and will help make us look better but not win a lot. We didn't choose to address the d s and didn't pick a star KN.
Nate, I don't think fans were bitter with Carr. Only that it might have been time to move on after so many years. Unfortunately, it was handled unprofessionally. And, in hindsight, the wrong person was shown the door. I'd rather have kept Carr and booted McDaniels.
I think S. Carolina DL may surprise. OLs need work and we needed a star CB this guy is a nice pick but not a starter. If we found a steal with Tennessee Thornton it would be a help but I see a lot of picks with the size speed talents then, to put in the same talk with Randy Moss big talk but too much to take I and take seriously.
IMO, lots of speculation investing in this year's draft. Maybe too much. But who knows. In just a matter of months, we get to see how good the new regime is at this. Even long-term prospects will likely reveal themselves as solid (or bust) choices.
Plenty of previous Raiders' regimes waived 3rd rounders before the final 53-man roster. So the bar is already very low.
Draft wasn't bad, it just wasn't what you're putting your all your chips to bet on. It was or looked like a rebuilding-kind of draft-, It wasn't about picking the big name players but their targets for their program.
Bob Raider
No, it was a good draft it just that we want to see more D-1A picks with higher rankings and a little Cheesefs and Eagles' style if picking and get steaks in the draft. Defense had .ire stars but they went for ofcense
This has potential to be a very cool film, because we know Al had a storied career and life. Can't wait!
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/first-look-emerges-of-nicholas-cage-as-john-madden-and-chrisian-bale-as-al-davis
Mad bird Eagles fan
Private Equity Firms a 'fake news' 'fake friend'. They are a problem not a friend tilo or sports. They aren't buying stake in league just for profit and political tool and glamour-, but to make it a bank for big companies and tax shelter. Go to YouTube and learn the truth.
Ravens signed DT John Jenkins.
I hope the Raiders didn't make a mistake by letting Jenkins go. Jenkins was the Raiders run stuffer, starting every game for the last two years. He's the big guy in the middle who sheds blocks and makes plays. Now Jenkins will start on the Ravens defense. That's remarkable, and potentially a big mistake by the Raiders. Unless someone can step up and fill that role, the Raiders just got weaker on DL.
It's interesting to note that the Raiders retained Patrick Graham to run the defense but, for some reason, kicked many of his starters to the curb. Spillane, Moehrig, Jones, Jenkins, Epps and Chaisson (elevated to starter last year) are all gone.
Those guys are all pros (some at the top of their game), but none were retained. Which begs the question, why would the Raiders keep Patrick Graham? They jettisoned half his defense. And many of their replacements were cheaper versions.
Let's hope they are building their mind of defense and it is a dominating, playoff level one. Maybe Carroll wants a different type of defense and Graham k owns it. I can't understand why they aren't rebuilding the secondary but maybe they will before camp. Maybe Carroll wants the Seattle defense he had.
Bob Raider
My post one level higher. Maybe they have a plan for the defense could there be some move coming before camp? Jenkins wasn't Carroll's typy of NG maybe and they want different kinds of DTs and NGs. A edge rushers they like maybe the trade for one and a NG for their system a rookie ir a trade before season. The problem is the ,LBs and OL and secondary.
Bob Raider
Rumor is they want to trade S T. Taylor. They need to keep him and trade for some CBs. An OLB veteran would help too. Carroll likes rookie DB from Iowa St. But DBs are a hole in the defense and we need a starting CB
John Jenkins was alright, but was replaced at his position by Adam Butler. He was better at run defense, but was noticeably absent in pass. Butler has been dominant in both areas.
Jenkins was a free agent, glad he landed somewhere, but he is not the same player as he was.
Still a lot of work to do and opportunities with the roster building the rest of the offseason, but I am optimistic. At the end of the day, JUST PROVE IT, BABY!
Nate, what am I missing? I couldn't disagree more. Jenkins just had the two best years of his career while starting every game with the Raiders. He put up the best numbers of his career in every measurement, e.g., total tackles, TFL, passes defensed (knockdowns), etc.
He was the Raiders starting NT. Now he'll start on a better Ravens' defense. He's the big guy every team needs.
What surprised me most about the attrition we've watched on the D side of the ball is that the Raiders retained Patrick Graham. Graham is responsible for the defense they just showed the door, including several players at the top of their careers. Jenkins was one of them.
No way to misread that, IMO. Wilkins better be ready, and Butler will need to step up his run D.
I did not think he started every game the last 2 years, but I guess I was wrong. He has had 107 tackles (37 Solo, 70 Assists), 7 tackles for loss, and only 6 QB hits, with 2 sacks. He's had 0 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
Those are not numbers that scream outstanding. For his size, he seemed to be bullied around and out of place, especially with Crosby getting double teamed. He didn't seem to get off the snap quick. He had every opportunity to help relieve Crosby, and just did not contribute in a big way. Very comparable to Tahir Whitehead, but at DT and not LB IMO.
With Wilkins coming back, and drafting Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues, Jenkins became a casulty. Not too mention other guys signed. Leki Fotu, Tank Booker, Zach Carter, Jonah Laulu, and Laki Tasi. We finally have competition at this position that will give us some push.
Bullied around? Jenkins is a vet at reading plays and shedding blocks. I think you want him to be something he's not, i.e., a pass rusher. Wilkins might not be 100% to start the season. Your list of potential replacements above is filled with nobodies. None of them have clout at NT, yet.
Jenkins was a stalworth on the Raiders line for two years. It was Hankins and Billings before Jenkins. These guys are all vets who play one of the toughest positions on defense.
Be careful what you wish for.
Keep this mind. The Ravens (who regularly have a much better defense than the Raiders) signed Jenkins to start for them. And the Raiders, who regularly get so many things wrong, might have misread this one.
Nate, you're usually the guy criticizing player turnover at regime changes. This turnover is the most baffling of all. The Raiders kept their DC but shed most of his defense, including players who were provably at the peak of their careers. They went cheaper across the board.
That might have made more sense if Pete Carroll were younger.
Curiously, Patrick Graham went from highly respected DC looking for a HC job, to second fiddle in Pete Carroll's defense. I'm a little blown away by that.
NY, I have never been big on Jenkins. I've criticized his play the past few years. Again, his numbers are not overwhelmingly good. Only 37 solo tackles in 2 years, and 70 assisted tackles, out of 1,203 snaps in 2 years? That tells me he was usually the 2nd guy to the play, not the first. Its like a QB padding his passing stats with screens and passes under 5 yards per attempt.
Same years, Adam Butler with 1385 snaps, 10 sacks, 19 QB hits, 93 tackles, 52 solo, 41 assist, 16 tackles for loss. Then there is Maxx Crosby, who is mostly double-teamed, in the same two years, 1849 snaps, 22 sacks, 51 QB Hits, 135 tackles, 83 solo, 52 assist, 40 tackles for loss. When you have more solo tackles than assists, that tells you who was at the ball first and had a solo taken away. Butler and Crosby out-performed Jenkins in EVERY category; and Crosby did it mostly with double or triple-teamed. What was Jenkins' excuse?
The "No Name" rookies you mentioned to replace him seem to have more upside and motor to how they play. Jenkins may be the model NT, who anchors in his place and run stuffs; but in today's game, you need 2 DT that can push and get pressure, while stuffing run, especially against QB's like Mahomes, where you cannot give them lanes. With an anchor NT like Jenkins, while the other DT and DEs pressuring the QB, Jenkins now has a huge lane to cover, and is out of place and easily beat. His style wasn't working, and as you can see by the "assists" outweighing "solo" tackles, he was always the second to the ball, one step behind.
You're counting sacks for a guy nobody expects to get the QB. That's not his role. And you certainly can't compare that to Crosby. Crosby gets doubled because he's otherwise in the backfield. Jenkins role is to hold the middle, and I've watched him do that rather effectively for the Raiders the last two years. Not sure why you saw something completely different.
Again, your stats assessment aside, Ravens thought enough of Jenkins to sign him to be their starting NT. That says a lot, IMO.
I never saw this as a rebuild. But that's what you get when you allow your vet players to leave and replace them with cheaper and younger players.
Maybe what's being overlooked is the dichotomy between wanting to rebuild the Raiders and hiring a 74-year-old HC on a 3-year contract to oversee the rebuild.
Gruden Part II was far from done after 4.5 years, and he started with Carr and Mack, then drafted Jacobs... of course he dumped Mack.
Carroll has Smith and Crosby, and drafted Jeanty. He's also been gifted Bowers, who's clearly going to be a baller.
But what does it take to be successful? Because much of what the Raiders are doing is a repeat of what they've done in the past... and there's only a 3-year window, unless you believe Chip Kelly or maybe Patrick Graham can take over and finish the job.
I'm just saying NY, all of his stats and film show he seemed to be a step behind things. Yes, there are times when a NT is called to anchor the middle, but when the other 3 D-Lineman are making a push, anchoring the middle against the likes of Lamar, Mahomes, etc; is pointless without a LB spy to help. Jenkins wasn't much for anything else than anchor the middle. We need hybrid NT who can anchor and push.
As to our final point, I truly think PG can (and will) take over the job and finish it.
Raider Bob
OTAs?! Not too bad we have some offensive depth and big time rookies and youngsters there on the offense well maybe not so much with the OL rookies. Heard Raiders have done ballers like WR Beck and of course, Jeanty and on defense CB Porter. But the offense has to lead us or it will be a rebuilding year. Nate thinks Jenkins was a role guy a back up and NY says we needed him but the point is we aren't trying to bring in veterans guys by trading for them or picking up so e pass rushers, DTs and a star CB
Run stuffers who also rush the passer are few and far between, and betting on one to materialize from the Raiders list of leftovers is, well, a reach. The Raiders paid Wilkins a huge contract for his ability to do both.
Remember, the Raiders recently drafted 4 DTs over two drafts. None panned out, and they are all gone. That's the norm, at least for the Raiders.
Jenkins is a specialist at run defense. It's not sexy, but that's what the Ravens are paying him to do.
Meanwhile, news was just released that Wilkins had a setback on his surgically repaired foot.
Sometimes a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.
X posts and other reporting indicate Wilkins may have rebroke the bone in his foot that was surgically repaired. It's speculation whether or not he will be ready to play. Some think not. That's potentially a huge blow to the Raiders D, especially, since the Raiders could have drafted Carter (instead of Wilson) at a fraction of the cost of signing Wilkins.
Most teams would place Wilkins on IR and probably held on to Jenkins a little longer probably letting him(Jenkins) walk in June instead of fast. But the problem isn't yet so big they can't do some rebuilding before or season. Nate feels we're loaded with no name linemen and maybe should've drafted a.bettet DT and the problem is the Raiders don't make big trades for defenders.
Raiders are grooming a 6'6" 350 lbs rugby player to play offense. While it will take a miracle of coaching to get him up to NFL level, this might be a backstory worth watching. Projects like this have low probability of success (e.g., just chum for media and fans), but this guy looks the part. Massive athletic dude with trunks for legs.
I've seen reports say that Wilkins will be back by August, but it is tough to say. They will see how he progresses before making an IR decision. Can't say that I blame them. We do have good depth there now with FA and draft. I'm excited to see how Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues do, I was focused on them before the draft, especially Pegues, who was someone I had the Raiders picking.
Javadon Clowney? No, doesn't make sense-, they need a NG and they don't usually sign big name veterans on defense. Before pre season most teams would find that veteran player to lead and better the team. With a whole month(June) they might do it but they might feel they have a winning roster.
Bob Raider
Bon
Nate, "Good depth"? I assume you mean lots of bodies. Because the Raiders DT room is filled with rookies and rejects. There is no veteran "starter" presence.
Tank Booker undrafted rookie
Tonka Hemingway rookie
Jonah Laula undrafted 2nd year player w/Raiders
JJ Pegus rookie
Laki Tasi undrafted rookie
Zach Carter 4th year (started 2 games last year for Cincy)
Leki Fotu 6th year (drafted by AZ; started 1 game last year for the Jets)
That's all of them, and it's mostly a list of late round and undrafted rookies. The two "vets" weren't good enough to play out their rookie contracts with the same team. The Raiders, themselves, have a recent history of drafting DTs and waiving them within 1-2 years. That's been their MO. Ironically, they just waived another one this month. It's obviously a tough position to fill competently.
Clearly, the Raiders have bodies, but no discernible depth. IMO, it's a wing and a prayer if Wilkins can't go.
I'm concerned whether the Raiders defense can even stand up in the wake of the turnover they experienced this year.
PS, I assumed Pete Carroll retained Patrick Graham to build off of what Graham had been doing the past couple years, but that was made moot with the mass turnover of D starters. After Crosby, the defense is just a long list of hopefuls... and Wilkins and Koonce are both coming off significant injuries.
NY I wasn't a big fan of Jenkins but I said they should've gave him two months contract or just kept him until camp(June)-, then let him walk and sign a veteran NG, maybe trade for a decent NG. It's an important position but it can be ignored for awhile. Some teams will use smaller DTs in a rotation over a DT to stop the run. If Jenkins was quicker I'd support his spot in team. I think slhis stats weren't the problem
Bob Raider
We got a few camp OTA stars shouldn't get too sold on them yet but we got rookie talent. No praises or stories about QB Miller though. Other teams getting stories and praises for their rookies. Glad no rivals are getting news about their rookies Dallas is having a big time parade of rookies getting stories.
But it's still early and one of our rookies nay get big time props
It's not an accident that the Raiders have rolled for many years with big guys like Hankins, Billings and Jenkins in the middle of their defense. It's a formula that works for most teams. Rotating in a smaller, quicker DT happens on passing downs, but you need a big guy to solidify your line.
And it's more than just being big, it's understanding and playing gaps, shedding blocks and disrupting plays... and sometimes making the tackle. It's not a position steeped in sexy stats.
If Wilkins misses even one game, the Raiders are all-in with late round picks and undrafted rookies, plus two waiver wire free agents.
GM 101: The smarter move would have been to sign Jenkins for another year and make the Raiders long list of nobodies and unproven DTs beat him out for the starting job. Jenkins contract with the Ravens is not yet revealed, but you can be sure the Raiders could have easily afforded it.
Raider Bob
If we don't fix the secondary we aren't just in rebuild mode, we are in Arch Manning-cellar party of the AFC mode.
A lot of rumbling that the Raiders are about to sign FA RB Nick Chubb to join Jeanty in the backfield. We would have Power and Thunder with those two backs, holy moly! That would take me back to the days of Garner and Wheatley.
Crosby, on his podcast, gave a lot of praise to rookie CB Darien Porter, and said he is going to do great things in this defense. He said he is preparing like a vet, and is excited to see the product on the field. The other rookie he gave praise to was WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. and said he reminds him of Martavis Bryant. Martavis could have had an impact in the League had he not had off the field trouble and could stay healthy. Was super excited to hear his take on these two rookies we drafted. Google search his podcast called "The Rush" and listen to that episode.
IMO, the Raiders may be relying too much on rookies and inexperienced players. That has me concerned. The upcoming season is looking more and more like a developmental period. Maybe that was the plan all along, but there's no arguing the window of opportunity is defined by a 3-year contract with Pete Carroll. That leaves Years 2 and 3 to make hay!
Nate, if the Chubb thing is real, that would be interesting for sure. It might also make expendable some RB contracts which they previously signed. Seems a bit wasteful, but an upgrade, nonetheless.
Bob Raider
Rumors say Meyer, Parham and Wilson are on the trading block / trade stories by sports news and bloggers...but why Meyer?
We want to see results, not big praise of some veterans and camp rookie stars making plays in camp.
The offense looks exciting and made some good moves and changes/ rebuilding but the defense is a mess.
Perhaps if the Raiders are determined to compete this year, they should be talking to Alexander and/or Ramsey, two top CBs in the league. The Raiders approach to its defensive secondary so far has been a wing and a prayer.
Bob Raider
There is big praise for Brady's and Carroll's staff, some rookies and veterans and camp stars. But we shouldn't get too excited or comfortable with the news. Other teams have been doing big things to fix big holes or try to win but we haven't really done that yet, unless this is a rebuilding year we need to make some moves. Pratt helps and now linebacker spots are decent we need a CB and more pass rushers and, some guards
I watched Behind The Shield intro to the 2025 offseason with Spytek, Carroll and the draft. It's about 15-20 minutes and the production quality is really good. Glad I took the time. They really sell Jeanty. Spytek says he was a perfect storm of BPA and position of need when they drafted him. I believe that's true.
Bob Raider
Look good at QB in '25 but not much news or talk on Cam Miller
Poor AOC.., is he a starter/ 'feel good' story, back up or another career back up draft pick?
AOC has overachieved at college and pro levels, but he's probably not a starting NFL QB, at least for now. As a backup, he's solid. His strength is protecting the ball. That's what you want from your backup... to not make costly mistakes.
My guess is that Cam Miller is not at AOC's level... more of a project that the Raiders hope can step into a bigger role over the next couple years.
However, if he shines in pre-season, the Raiders may need to carry 3 QBs on their initial roster to protect him from waivers. I can't imagine he will displace AOC, who is now a vet with starter experience and probably working his ass off to learn the system and improve.
Bob Raider
With Smith and AOC it's good especially with a running game. But without Smith it may be a 'playing for pride' thing. AOC as a starter if Smith is injured and we think we can make playoffs? Maybe they may want to look to trade for a backup.
Wilkins? No, not now! Sometimes this happens and now it's not a strong defense, IMO it was a problem and decent now? It's a mess!
Pretty sure I read that AOC was ranked by PFF as among the best backups in the NFL (and he's a bargain at that). Not sure trading up for another backup is even an option. Who?
IMO, AOC matches up with any backups signed and some of the low-level starters, e.g., Justin Fields, perhaps even an aging Russell Wilson. And Daniel Jones? Easily the most overrated QB in the NFL, and that's saying a lot with guys like Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins out there.
None of those guys are going to win a SB.
If the Raiders were to waive AOC, he would be signed in a heartbeat... and the Raiders know that.
Here's one media poll. It lists AOC as 12th best backup QB, ahead of Gardner Minshew, but behind Jimmy G. Remember, AOC beat out both these QBs as starter for the Raiders. Don't underestimate the guy. He has some chops.
Copy and paste this link for the article.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2025-ranking-nfl-backup-quarterbacks
IDK...NYR, I was just concerned about our OL and who could win if Smith got hurt. Barkley, Locke, Brissett? Somebody who can keep the run for a playoff birth.
Backup QB notwithstanding, IMO, the planets will need to line up just for Smith to get the Raiders to the playoffs. Perhaps the irony that you're not seeing is that AOC beat out two starters since becoming a Raider. By extension, that has brought him experience he needs to get better.
As I've said before, IMO, the Raiders have gone with young and inexperienced players across their roster, to the point which this is almost certainly a developmental year. That said, anything can happen... maybe the planets will line up.
Big rumors that the Browns may cut Shedeur Sanders after the pre-season, even though he has out-preformed Dillon Gabriel. I think if this happens the Raiders pick him up as a third option. AOC is incredibly talented backup, who can start down the road. It is unfortunate that the McDaniel/Ziegler regime cut Carr and didn't give AOC an opportunity to grow into his position. Listening to JPJ talk on the Rush, Smith is helping AOC progress even more. I am hopeful with this regime, by far the best since Reggie assembled the team of Del Rio, Musgrave, and Norton Jr; but this one is 10 times better. Just Prove It, Baby!
Big "if" on that one, Nate. Not so much the Browns dumping Sanders, but the Raiders picking him up after passing on him 7x in the draft. If the Browns released him, that would only affirm the Raiders decision to not draft him despite seven opportunities to do so.
Here's a thought; If Sanders can't make the Browns team competing with QBs named Dillon Gabriel, he's done in the NFL... before he starts.
My guess is that Sanders is a Brown for at least 2-3 years... and still has an opportunity to prove everyone wrong.
Perhaps the moral of that story is, it's tough to take any media seriously these days.
That's ridiculous if anything true about it! Letting a good player go for what? Why the attitude and attacks at him? Is this Sanders hate? It can't be they think he can't play that may take a few months to prove and wouldn't most teams give a young QB a few years to prove himself? But if Cleveland lets him go I think the Raiders should sign him, Nate, AOC is decent but maybe another young QB might get him motivated and hey he could be the 3rd string QB or Sanders might be
Bob Raider
Sign Sanders- if Cleveland releases him and see if AOC beats him out, they can motivate each other. Let's start looking for two linemen a veteran DT in a trade and a free agent speed rusher. We can't win or be serious about winning without a good CB, we need to trade for a CB. Sanders hate- Deion was talking about money and his sons' talent and maybe media and some teams didn't like it. Is it Deion they are sending a message and just using his son to do it? Drafted very low was a little hard to understand
I wanted the Raiders to draft Sanders at least 4x out of the 7x they had an opportunity to draft him. But they didn't. They had so many chances, it became apparent that Sanders was toxic to the Raiders. IMO, don't hold your breath for the Raiders to sign him off waivers if the Browns release him and admit they made a mistake by drafting him (which I doubt they will).
I'll eat my words if I'm wrong, but Sanders will not be a Raider this year, even if the Browns pay the freight. That ship has sailed.
Raiders had more confidence in Cam Miller in the 6th round.
Bob Raider
Jalen Ramsey?...a good veteran CB and I don't think they made an offer for him.
They get praise from fans for moves and vett and props from media for their draft picks and the rookie's in camp but it's looking 'feel good' and great stories but leaving out the whole stories at camp.
Bob Raider
KC isn't losing its dominance, Broncos have a defense and maybe top OL and the Chargers may be ok. But there's no way we're a better team than last year not making moves to get veteran players or stars to fill big holes on defense. A CB, DT and FS is a huge problem and need for them
We've had this discussion before during the Raiders most recent downturn... which has now lasted over two decades. Is it the "chicken or the egg;" i.e., the coaches or the players?
We are about to get a close look into that window. I think we can mostly agree, the Raiders as a team are about the same. They lost some key players in the middle of their defense but added some key players on offense. Arguably, a zero net gain.
The real change is coaching.
And the question is, will better coaching make the Raiders a better team?
IMO, no team in the NFL has been stuck in the mud more than the Raiders. Their inability to climb out of a 2-decade rut is stunning. Once a storied franchise is known by a new generation of football fans as one of the worst teams in the NFL, for their entire lifetime. Let that sink in for a minute.
They hired Pete Carroll to change that. So, we'll see if it's the coaches.
Sounds simplistic, but the Raiders have had good players before, and they have some good players now. It seems as though the system always lets them (us!) down.
NY said, "
IMO, no team in the NFL has been stuck in the mud more than the Raiders. Their inability to climb out of a 2-decade rut is stunning. Once a storied franchise is known by a new generation of football fans as one of the worst teams in the NFL, for their entire lifetime. Let that sink in for a minute."
I disagree, the Cleveland Browns, NY Jets, Jacksonville Jags, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys are all in the same boat as the Raiders. The Jets and Browns maybe longer than the Raiders too.
I think the issue is not about talent, but the development of talent (or lack thereof) around the rosters' strengths. The last GM/HC to really look at developing talent that way was Reggie/Jack. Gruden wanted to through his system, and Bisaccia went back to strength of the team after Gruden stepped out. AP was doing the same, but both Bisaccia and AP were way over their heads, and AP had too many chiefs stepping all over each other.
Pete Carroll has always been a coach who worked with the strength of the roster. When you hear JPJ and others talk on podcasts, its different, feels different.
I am trying not to get my hopes up this year, but I truly think we are going to be surprised by the balance on both sides of the ball. I think we may be starting to dig out. My only concern is the QB position. I like Geno, don't get me wrong, but is he the guy who can turn it around? Is he comparable to Gannon? It remains to be seen, JUST PROVE IT, BABY!
Nate, there was a period (I believe it was the first 18 years following the SB), which the Raiders recorded the worst cumulative record in the NFL. That's not my opinion. That's documented. Not sure the Raiders have done much better since, and they have zero playoff wins.
Granted, the Browns were dumb enough to hire one former Raiders HC who proceeded to suck the life out of that franchise.
As for players or coaches talking a big game during the off-season, that's how it goes. Pete Carroll has a tremendous resume and reputation, but he's never coached the Raiders before.
This is apropos to the discussion above.
Below is a URL to an article that references a list of the 25 worst head coaches over the past 25 years. No surprise that Raiders' Dennis Allen and Art Shell II made that list.
But that seems incredibly generous to the Raiders, who must have the most coaching hires (14) of any team over the last 25 years... so it would logically follow to say they hired the worst coaches.
Seems to me, with few exceptions, almost every head coach the Raiders have hired over the past 25 years have been epic failures. Unless the author is blaming external forces, e.g., Al Davis or Mark Davis, all these guys failed in miserable fashion.
Bill Callahan
Norv Turner
Art Shell II
Lane Kiffin
Tom Cable
Hue Jackson
Dennis Allen
Josh McDaniels
There are a few total faceplants in that group. Worse, Hue Jackson went on to coach the Browns to the worst record for any HC. I hope he at least made the list wearing a Browns logo. And Josh McDaniels? Two epic failures as HC. He should never get another chance.
Here's the URL: https://tinyurl.com/44xaxhdd
In disclosure, I did not see the actual list naming the 25 HCs. But I can only imagine the author missed 1 or 2 other Raiders HCs. And when you consider those coaches and the Raiders draft picks over the same period, it all starts to make sense.
Before you disagree, I would ask that you name one other NFL team or any other professional sports franchise that hired >14 head coaches in 25 years.
From 2000-2024, the Raiders overall record is 139-233. Yes, 14 coaches Gruden (twice) Callahan, Norv, Art Shell, Kiffin, Cable, Hue, Dennis Allen, Tony Sparano, Del Rio, Bisaccia, McDummy, Pierce, and now Pete. But Sparano, Bisaccia were only interim, so I think the real # should be 12, not that that is any better.
The other concerning factor is that there aren't any other teams with that many coaches in that time span, nor with a record under 140 wins in that time span. Here's a look:
The second worse in this time is the Browns overall record is 141-278-1, with 11 coaches.
Detroit Lions 158-244-2 with 6 coaches
Texans are 162-209-1 with 7 coaches
Cardinals are 172-230-2 with 8 coaches
NY Jets are 173-231 with 9 Coaches
Bills are 179-176 with 8 coaches
Bears are 186-218 with 6 coaches
Dolphins are 186-196 with 8 coaches
Bucs are 189-215 with 8 coaches
What does this tell us? Well it tells us there is a sickness with the organization's leadership. From the owner, team presidents, general managers, etc. We can attribute 2000-2011 to Al, but the last 14 years falls on Mark Davis. Yes, he recognizes the issues, but he is not as patient as Al was on these things. I truly felt that Reggie McKenzie was getting the team in the right direction; but there was so much organizational discord with the then team president (Mark Badain) and his crew, that it eventually was becoming a no win situation. Remember, under Badain, the Raiders were paying 3 times the amount of contracted rent to Oakland/Alameda, and taxes to the state and federal governments. This team had been so mismanaged, it is not going to take a few years to get out of it. Sandra Morgan-Douglass is doing a fantastic job in righting the ship out of the front office nightmare it had been, that Reggie didn't have the power to do.
With that said, so far I've liked what I have seen with Pete and company; but they still have to prove it. Researching all of this has made me sick to my stomach. I'm going to go vomit now
Geez, Nate. Thanks for the research... and proving my statements correct (as unfortunate as that is). The Raiders are the worst team over the last two plus decades. That's a generation, and it definitely and squarely falls on the Davis's, beginning with Al and counting Mark's entire tenure. There are no excuses.
I'm a big fan of Pete Carroll and company, too. But they will have to navigate what others have been unable. Mark Davis controls the team and now he has new management, Tom Brady and others involved, for better or for worse.
Each regime has had its challenges. This one might have too many cooks.
Bob Raider
Listening to Commissioner Goodell talk about overseas and the money makes me want to vomit. They want fans to praise them for value and progressing to playing games overseas and getting international fan bases but I think it also makes them look greedy with a money over class attitude. I don't think they should play more games or a lot of them overseas. It's too early. To do that right now. The Raiders have lost a lot of it's power a d class through big plans and new ideas that are too corporate. Football, not how much the teams are worth are what I want to hear. No, Al maybe took a huge lemon but he was about football and players and fans and it made football something fans loved. He was committed to winning and players and other fans had wind but never had that. The Raiders were a real team when Al was there
Other fans maybe had teams that won more than Al during his losing streak but their team's owners weren't that worried about them or winning before money and if some cared about those things they would never fight the league for what was right like Al did. Wanting to win, loyalty to employees and fans and willing to take on the league is why I called Raiders a real team Also era.
Bob Raider
I was trying to say in my posts to explain what I was trying to say and show you at the bottom of my first post. Al's ran a lemon in last year's of his era, but he had class and commitment he also had loyalty and the fans like bling and billion dollar owners, stadiums and how wealthy andvaluable teams are. Al tried to win and play the best football in the world o.k., other teams passed him by but they are money motivated not loyalty motivated.
True, to a fault. Al tried too hard (not allowing others to help) and he lost sight of what it takes to build and maintain a winner.
Mark tried to let others find the Raiders way, but his choices were bad. He was incompetent and they were mostly incompetent. Now, in order to correct that wrong, he's become more involved. So far, that's not the solution either.
Enter Pete Carroll.
Our only hope is that Carroll is the Obi-Wan Kenobi of football coaches. You'd think any team whose stadium is nicknamed "The Death Star" would be better. But evil always loses...
I think Al had a better way to disguise the dysfunction in the organization, by calling it the "Mystique" of the Raiders. Always shrouded in mystery, because Al had a crew that knew they needed to keep things in house. We saw this in how some of his "loyal" guys attacked reporters. Al was also an attorney, and had multiple attorneys (like Amy Trask) work for him to make sure people were keeping their "Non-Disclosure Agreements" about the organization and how it ran.
All of that fell apart when he passed and Mark let Amy go. I always felt like if he had kept her to be the team president, she would have turned everything around, kept the majority of the dysfunction under a lid until it got better, and would have let Reggie do his thing. But, I guess we will never know.
Nate, McKenzie completely dismantled the roster when he took over. You used to take umbrage with that. He never got the Raiders out of neutral. When Gruden was hired, he was let go. It seemed like the right thing to do, at the time. Still does.
Honestly, I can't imagine any single person or scenario in the past 25 years that would have made a difference.
Even retaining Rich Bisaccia after his miracle run to end Gruden II era would have likely failed, because he had no experience. Look no further than Antonio Pearce. Same thing, IMO.
The Raiders best chance is right now, with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. Hard to believe I just typed that, but it's true. Carroll is the best HC the Raiders have ever hired and Smith is a significant step up from the last two years at QB (probably better than Carr).
They just have to navigate around a Raiders organization led by Mark Davis and somehow find success.
He dismantled a lot of the roster we had yes, but he also got rid of overrated contracts (Tommy Kelly), something that I was not opposed to. But he quickly began building a dominating roster that he never got to complete.
Nate, McKenzine was GM for seven years. That's a long time to suggest he needed more time. And he was part of the brain trust which allowed Bill Musgrave to walk away at the peak of the Raiders offense during the past 24 years... right after their only playoff appearance during McKenzie's term. That was the closest the Raiders came to being competitive, and he oversaw its demise.
The problem with the Raiders, and it's age-old, most of their leadership choices should never have been hired. They've been a sh-show for 24 years.
The last time the Raiders were truly good, Jon Gruden was HC. Al (stupidly, foolishly, selfishly and egotistically) traded Gruden at the peak of his first HC stint. The Raiders rode Gruden's tailwind into the SB and quickly became the dumbest team in America.
They have yet to shake that moniker.
Pete Carroll on Tom Brady:
""He's keeping track everything, we talk regularly. He's really close with John [Spytek], and they have a great relationship so that we can add the richness that he offers. He's going to have a blast doing this. He's so excited about it, so involved with everything. We're trying to do a good job of really keeping him connected so he really can be at the edge of giving the advice and helping us make decisions in a way it's representative of ownership."
First, that flies in the face of Brady earlier saying he had no participation in the draft, particularly, as it pertained to NOT drafting Sanders.
Second, if you had any doubt there were so many cooks in the kitchen, this article should remove that doubt.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_mark_davis_explains_what_will_make_2025_a_success/s1_16640_42468997
I like Tom Brady and would argue he is the GOAT, however, he is no longer behind center and his fierce competitive instincts might not translate as well in his current role. Just saying, be prepared.
Bob Raider
Mustgrave? NY clue me in. IDK...AOC seems to be him and OL Dylan Parham. The offense will carry this team with OL questions. It's too slow, calm and friendly no urgency, no reported staff arguments or complaints and pressure over trades and free agency. Just as low and friendly
Not sure I understand your question. Bill Musgrave was the Raiders OC in 2016. He and Derek Carr led the Raiders best offense in over two decades. Carr was on track as potential league MVP until he broke his leg. Musgrave's success came from allowing Carr the freedom to call audibles and run shotgun formation, which is the formation Carr played in college (throwing 50 TDs his final year... mostly to DeVante Adams).
Musgrave was replaced as OC by his understudy in 2017 and the Raiders offense quickly fell back to earth. It cost Del Rio his job, then it cost McKenzie his job.
I don't know what to expect from Raiders 2025 offense. IMO, 2025 seems like an experiment with no promise of success. Pete Carroll out of retirement. Spytek first-time GM. Tom Brady becomes part owner and lead scout (even if he denies it), and the Raiders start a youth movement with Carroll age 74 at start of the season.
In Vegas terms, the Raiders appear to place all their money on red (by hiring Pete Carroll who will be 77 when his contract ends), while hedging that bet with a youth push. That's a crazy combination that suggests someone else may need to finish the job Carroll starts.
Btw, if Wilkinson is still in a walking boot, he's not playing anytime soon... season is barely over a month away.
"Wilkins"
LOL, I called him Wilkinson once before, which demonstrates the guy has been a ghost since signing a huge contract.
Bob Raider
Thanks, I didn't know that. Oh, I only remember him a little. Best offense in two decades? If that's your view point but maybe it was Grudens guy.
Here's what I remember.
Del Rio and Musgrave coached together in Jacksonville. Del Rio was "meh" as HC and eventually fired. Years later when Del Rio was hired by the Raiders, he brought in Musgrave to be his OC. The duo elevated the Raiders to a 12-4 record in 2016.
Musgrave was OC and Ken Norton Jr was DC (along with Del Rio, a D-minded HC). Musgrave had the Raiders offense running on all cylinders but was let go in favor of his assistant, Todd Downing (who failed miserably). Ironically, it was Norton Jr and the Raiders defense that needed a change, not the offense. Norton continued to struggle and was finally let go mid-season 2017 and Del Rio was fired after the season.
Enter Jon Gruden and his complete dismantling of the Raiders, including mega trades of Mack and Copper (providing massive draft capital). Four years of drafting and development and the Raiders never came close to the 2016 team.
Then the Gruden email scandal, Bisaccia, McDaniels, Pierce and now Carroll.
Except for 2016, the Raiders have been a dumpster fire since their last super bowl. In that span, the Raiders have been reduced to one of the worst teams (and organizations) in pro sports. In this thread, we were discussing who's worse, the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Lions, etc. That says it all. The ONLY thing that's saved the Raiders from complete organizational embarrassment was their move to LV (and that was courtesy of totally incompetent governance in Oakland which allowed all three of its pro sports franchises to leave).
And here we are, all of us on the edge of our seats hoping Pete Carroll is the man who can alter the trend of Allegiant Stadium being "homefield" to every visiting team who plays there.
I'd say the anticipation is killing me, but I've become desensitized to off-season hype after so many years of failure. Even the "show me" and "prove it" quotes are getting old.
As you point out, the Raiders have failed to use all the resources they have to build an experienced roster. Their reliance on youth, inexperience and mid-level free agents is stunning. Makes me wonder if they're taking 2025 seriously.
Sorry, that was a little wordy. Cheers!
Bob Raider
How do you lose three pro teams? Oakland,:so sorry it's not like the city didn't help run them out of town, but the leagues w were too blind and greedy to want to play there, instead, they let the owners leave and never and didn't put some money into the stadium there. Winners and great games!As for Gruden- he took a huge stumble and sinking in his but he still is he best if he coaches. Can't say I can justify 3 or 4 first round lemons except for Jacobs but he drafted Crosby, he signed Cole and Waller and he kept Carr. No.
Of course creed played a role, but it probably took a special kind of incompetence by Oakland to lose three franchises from three separate leagues.
If a team misses on 3 or 4 first round picks, as Gruden clearly did, it's tough to develop a winner. Those are critical choices for any franchise. And picking Crosby in the 4th round was practically an accident. Before Crosby was a star, Gruden threatened to cut him. That story came from Crosby himself. So, I'm not sure who to give credit for drafting (and keeping) Crosby.
It's a results-driven league. That's the nature of pro sports. Bad choices often yield bad results. The Raiders have proven that theory far too often.
A new regime, a new opportunity to change course.
"Greed" !!
Greed and ego, two vices difficult to overcome and often get in the way of success. I would argue ego has hurt the Raiders more than greed. Ego was largely behind Al's decisions to bench Marcus Allen and trade Jon Gruden and later factored into Gruden trading Khalil Mack. In smaller doses, it got the best of Hue Jackson and even Reggie McKenzie.
It runs much deeper, and the Raiders have had more than their share of big egos... by the people in charge.
Maybe that's why Pete Carroll can succeed. He's a pro.
Bob Raider
Right NY, about Oakland's mistakesbut these leagues were very greedy and unfair to that city. With the success rate of pro teams there they could've helped keep them there. Oakland was greedy too, they should've built a new stadium and somehow talked the A's and Raiders to share it. LV is awesome but expansion might've been better for them
Davis and Oakland would both tell us the other never fulfilled their lease obligations after the Raiders returned from LA.
The sad truth is that the Raiders (and ticket sales) were so bad for so long that sections of the stadium were tarped off during games. That removed seats for sale and readjusted the "sellout" count for TV broadcasting rights.
In LV, seats get blocked off for another reason... they are reserved for opposing teams fans. What a farse!
The only path for the Raiders to truly climb out of their funk is to win, which they've been unable to do for 24 years (minus 2016).
Raiders appear to be headed into training camp without much work to their defensive secondary. They lost Epps, Moehrig and Jones, and replaced them with, well, several players but nobody really stands out except for maybe Chinn from the Commanders. Everyone else is fighting for a job.
The last time there was this level of neglect at an entire position group, it was the offensive line, and we all saw what happened.
Hopefully, this isn't a repeat of that debacle. Suffice to say, CB isn't a position you want to rely on rookies and second-stringers to fill.
Raiders to release Christian Wilkins!
Ok, who's playing NT?
The Raiders continue to look less and less like serious contenders in 2025. Instead, 2025 looks more like a wing and a prayer.
Meanwhile, I continue to question why the Raiders retained Patrick Graham but didn't bring back his defense, which they have mostly replaced with rookies and less expensive second stringers.
Wilkins
Moehrig
Epps
Hobbs
Jones
Spillane
Jenkins
All gone! That's more than 60% of the starters on defense, at key positions front to back. At least two of those guys were worth fighting to bring back, e.g., Moehrig, Spillane or Hobbs.
But now, losing Jenkins looks like a colossal mistake. (Remember, they also picked up Chaisson toward the end of last season and he looked like a baller... now, he's gone too!)
Some will want to assure us that 4th and 6th round DT draft picks will fill the Wilkins void. But how can we possibly know that?
To that, I would say, if the Raiders continue to invest in penny stocks instead of blue chips, they could lose their whole investment, again.
Bob Raider
Only a few pro teams have overcome set backs of won using the home grown way that is, less talent with average and solid rosters. But this team is testing the limits to any kind of business or corporate game plan for success... Arch Manning or a huge trade on draft day is this a rebuild?
I never considered that... Releasing one of their best defenders before camp, could the Raiders already be in the Arch Manning sweepstakes?!
Interesting thing I'm learning about Wilkins is that the Raiders might still have to pay him. If true, this may be one of the dumbest moves during their losing era (now spanning 2000s, 2010s and 2020s).
Several teams reported to be interested in Wilkins. And why not? Raiders might be paying for him.
...NYR.
The Wilkins thing is insane. IMO, fans deserve an explanation. Unfortunately, my opinion isn't worth squat.
Florio claims Wilkins already earned >$49 million (call it $50M), and the Raiders would still owe him another $35M in guarantees.
Wilkins only played in five games. You do the math...$!
I know it's business, but I'd be embarrassed to try and collect more $ after being paid $10M per game. Worse, do you remember how Wilkins was injured? He jumped over Adam Butler celebrating a sack. That's how he hurt himself.
Now there's a question about second surgery that he may have refused to get (or a second opinion suggesting not to get).
Based on the circumstances which caused his injury, the insane money he's already been paid, and untold reason why he's not heeling.., he should just go away! But I know it doesn't work that way. Moral integrity has nothing to do with this... A long legal battle is predicted.
Bob Raider
Patrick Mahomes' relative has a disease and has a go fund me for him
We lost some people in recently and over months and/ or a year
Mrs. Mary Davis, Rich Stephens, Don Hassellbeck
Stevens, OL played for them a few years a good solid swing player.
Hassellbeck, TE/ good receiver tall TE They got from the Patriots, played on a SB team. He was called a very decent guy his son played lin the NFL as a QB.
Mrs. Davis, business and charity or social programs? She helped programs for wo.en.in the NFL she helped women in programs with the NFLPA. Wow the Raiders so.etimes have a hand kin s lot of things in pro sports when you think about it they seem to get or work with people who change or help make things happen or get better.
The unfortunate thing about the Wilkins' release is we (fans) won't get an explanation until the Player's Union gets the hearing. But, there are some pretty hefty accusations being rumored.
Josina Anderson of the "Exhibit" and Mike Florio are reporting rumors surrounding an "unspecified incident" with a teammate as being the reason for his release, though a league source confirmed to Anderson there was a situation in which Wilkins was “playing around.” This would suggest that there was a possible hazing situation, or there may be a sexual harassment situation, or a combination.
Anderson believes there may be some merit to the rumors regarding the incident with the teammate, because it otherwise does not make sense to cut a quality player at a seismic financial cost simply because of a disagreement over the best course of injury treatment (which is not necessarily an uncommon occurrence). It is also worth noting that, although Wilkins was placed on the active/PUP list on July 18, his release did not come with a failed physical designation.
Florio suggests that is the case, also discusses in a separate piece the difficulties Las Vegas could face if its argument that it properly voided Wilkins’ remaining guarantees is limited to the injury issue. Citing Article 39, Section 6 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Florio says Wilkins has the absolute right to a second opinion in medical matters. So, if the Raiders’ medical team wanted Wilkins to undergo a second operation on his foot, and if Wilkins’ decision to eschew surgery in favor of continued rehab was supported by a different doctor, then Vegas may not have a leg to stand on.
Here are links to both articles:
https://www.theexhibitconcept.com/post/questions-surface-around-factors-contributing-to-raiders-release-of-christian-wilkins
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-points-to-another-possible-reason-for-christian-wilkins-release
It appears that Wilkins kissed a teammate on the forehead, and the teammate took offense to it, according to Adam Schefter. There has to be more to this story. Like was this a continued act of foolishness where he didn't respect anyone's personal space.
Several beat writers are saying that he was not liked among the players in the locker room. From his time in Clemson and the Dolphins, you can find videos where he is @$$ grabbing opponents after a tackle. When Hunter Renfrow was still with us and we played Miami, there is a picture of them and Wilkins is kissing Renfrow on the forehead. Was he asked by the front office to tone it down and he didn't? Was he asked by the coaching staff?
I don't know about you, but this kind of banter happened all the time when I was a kid. A lot of @$$ grabbing, popping with the towels, icy-hot in your undies, etc. But no one EVER kissed another player on the head.
In games, if there was a pile up, the other team would spit in the ear hole of the helmet, or cup check us.
If he was messing around, I think that is funny and harmless; but in our worked up society today, nobody has a sense of humor. We were told to stop with the practical jokes all together, and we did. I think that may be the case here. I think the coaches and front office told him to knock it off, and he continued and it cost him his roster spot and eventually his guaranteed monies.
Bob Raider
Are we losing ground in the AFC West? I think the offense looks good and might help us win big games, have a winning season even missing the playoffs and maybe help keep us in playoff talks.
Bob Raider
I mean we could have a winning season even if we get eliminated from the playoffs but if we have a top offense we still could be in playoffs talk
Raiders are obviously trying to escape a financial obligation by releasing Wilkins. Inappropriate behavior can be corrected by a coach in 30 seconds. Saving $35M takes a little more crafting. Wilkins had a setback in his recovery and the Raiders appear to be blaming him for that. It's a huge setback for the team as a whole.
IMHO Wilkins loss isn’t that significant, he was only available for 5 games last year, so they had to play without him and still lots of time before the season to shore up the spot which it seems like they have addressed with the trade with the Eagles. Baldy had a nice take of Thomas Booker from last year. I wasn’t a fan of Christians playfulness during games… I kinda like my DLine mean that’s the only knock I would also have on Maxx, he instills fear with his relentless pursuit, not a unhinged desire to smash like, Townsend, Alzado, to name some late greats, not that I would change Maxx just my humble opinion.
IMO, Wilkins lack of playing time doesn't make his loss less significant. Raiders were a bad team last year without him.
Raiders paid Wilkins something like $110 million to anchor their interior D-line. Now he's gone and it cost them Jakorian Bennett to pick up a fledgling DT from the Eagles.
IMO, the Raiders continue to stack stupid onto stupid. Bennett was a starter and looked like a baller when he was healthy. Raiders were already thin at CB. Now their thinner at CB and DT.
Pete Carroll might be the man. But the one constant with the Raiders is that every time they make a regime change it comes with significant shift in personnel to which the Raiders can never catch up.
Wilkins and Bennett are just a microcosm of that. Bennett represents a young upstart player and now redirected (and potentially wasted) draft capital. Wilkins represents a huge loss of cap space, with zero return on investment and dead money that will follow the Raiders, maybe for years.
Before anyone says Bennett wasn't a "star", I'd remind you that Nnamdi Asomugh took several years to develop into the CB he became. Bennett had more passes defended than Jones on the other side.
Eagles just scored a big win for their already deep secondary, and it only cost them a bench player. We used to get played by the Patriots and Steelers like that. Now the Eagles have joined the club.
Thomas Booker IV. I hope he was worth it. Trading a starting CB for a bench DT certainly dilutes any confidence the Raiders had in the two rookie DTs they drafted.
Bennett's stats from 2024:
"Last season, opposing quarterbacks targeting Bennett had just a 52.1 passer rating with him in coverage -- as he allowed zero touchdown passes and had zero interceptions. Bennett allowed just 4.4 yards per attempt as opposing quarterbacks completed only 45% of their passes thrown his way."
Bennett will now compete for starting outside CB on deep Eagles defense (probably best in the league).
Unless the Raiders have a crystal ball on Thomas - drafted 5th round, cut 2x, practice squad in 2023 and one start in his career - this was a stupid trade.
Bob Raider
They had to let Wilkins go I guess but, a good back up CB who could help and be a future starter or a back up DT to make up for a star DT well? Hey Nate! what do you think?...two sides is this regime ok or I do they need to do more. Was it Wilkins actions or his contract?
I'm floored by the trade which the Raiders essentially gave up on the up-trending CB Bennett, who may actually start for the Eagles. We'll see!
With that said, this NFL offseason had several top-flight CBs go through free agency and trades. Already thin at CB before trading Bennett, the Raiders were not involved in obtaining any CBs above second tier.
That's a real headscratcher. They have Darney Holmes, Darien Porter (R) and Eric Stokes listed as starters on their unofficial depth chart. On paper, the Raiders CB room is the least experienced and least relevant in a long time. It was either Holmes or Stokes who recently got chided by beat writers as being underwhelming in practices.
This is another confusing offseason... just like so many before it. While the faces change, the pattern seems too familiar, e.g., not addressing critical needs even though they have ample resources to do so, and now trading starting talent for a bench player, straight up.
The Raiders do not look like a serious team headed into 2025.
I hope they prove me wrong!
Pretty uninspiring. It's preseason, so there's really nothing to opine on. Just disappointing to watch the Raiders 1st string offense fall flat against the Seahawks 2nd string defense. It took bench players to come in and clean up in the 2nd half.
Thorton Jr looked impressive, and he had separation headed to the end zone when AOC badly underthrew him for an INT. Maybe that's a throw Geno Smith can make.
Just seems like the Raiders need so much more.
Headlines:
"Browns fans will be calling for Shedeur Sanders to win the starting job after his performance Friday night."
He was 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, plus 19 yards rushing, and led the Browns on three touchdown drives.
Is Cam Miller really a better option? Raiders had 7 opportunities to draft Sanders and declined (figure at least 3x under extreme prejudice).
On the Raiders, Sanders would have been the likely backup to Smith for 1-2 years, giving him time to learn and mature into an NFL ready QB. All for pennies on the dollar and with virtually no risk.
I have a feeling this storyline isn't going away anytime soon.
Bob Raider
Why the tight wallet? The season hasn't started so a few moves could change the outlook which looks confusing and unsure. They need to trade players or picks for an OG and sign a veteran DT even if older, who was a pro bowler or good. Maybe they could trade Parham and Wilson for a DT or OG.
They are just cruising not panicking and that's what's worrying me! Tight wallet, it's smart and o.k./ good to save money but they haven't proven they have the talent or leadership to win.
They talk but the roster and staff gets news making things look better than they are. But making moves to get stars to fill holes We can get ex star free agent players to fix some weaker/ problem areas and they really might be a better team. But it's the 'wait and see' show and fans will support the Brady and Carroll show.
For me, the Raiders missteps are simple (and pretty obvious). They should have...
- Re-signed at least one of their key free agent defenders (e.g., Moehrig, Spillane, Hobbs) as all their positions have been downgraded by their replacements;
- Drafted Sanders in the 4th round where cost/benefit was undeniable... instead of spending 2 pics on QBs immediately afterward;
- Kept Jenkins at low cost for another year (that's a no brainer now!, especially, after watching the Seahawks RBs run thru and over the Raiders D-line);
- Not traded Bennett, who was easily their best CB at the time. Remember, Raiders let their other starter, Jones, walk (btw, Jones made an impressive INT for the Pats 2 days ago in preseason);
- Kept Wilkins and forced him to play or take an injury settlement. The cost of releasing him is probably far greater, partly for the money but also because the Raiders are down a starting DT;
In each case, the opportunity cost for the path the Raiders took seems much greater.
Raiders have suffered bad management for decades. If they want to somehow "return to glory" (which seems hollow to say after decades of trying), the margin of error is incredibly low... and almost assuredly lower than what they've already displayed.
In summary, the Raiders were bad in free agency (losing key defenders and replacing them with second tier players). Off-season trades yielded Geno Smith, but we also lost another key defender in Bennett (and Wilkins too). Smith will have to perform behind the Raiders O-line, which looks meh so far.
Our biggest hope for this team is the draft, but the jury is still out.
Sadly, even the great Pete Carroll might find the Raiders are beyond repair.
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