Counting Rich Bisaccia, the Raiders have employed six head coaches since 2021. Counting Champ Kelly, they are on GM No. 5 in that span. A chaotic decade in Las Vegas continues, but a ray of hope is expected to come from the Midwest. The Raiders outflanked competitors to land the No. 1 overall pick, and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza appears ticketed for Sin City.
The Raiders are 0-for-3 in quarterback plans post-Derek Carr, but this represents a different tier of opportunity. It will be the Raiders' first No. 1 overall pick since 2007 (JaMarcus Russell). Tom Brady and John Spytek have plenty of work to do in what has become a stacked AFC West, but Mendoza is poised to bring a solid starting point as yet another staff overhaul commences.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired head coach Pete Carroll
- Hired Klint Kubiak as HC replacement
- Hired Andrew Janocko as offensive coordinator
- Promoted D-line coach Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator
- Hired Joe DeCamillis as special teams coordinator, Marquice Williams as senior ST coach
- Hired Mike McCoy as senior offensive assistant
- Brought in Al Holcomb as senior defensive assistant
- Added Rick Dennison as offensive line coach
- Retained defensive pass-game coordinator Joe Woods
- Blocked from interviewing Seahawks' Justin Outten for run-game coordinator role
It was not hard to see the writing on the wall early for Carroll. The Raiders attempted to convince Ben Johnson to sign up. Even though no official offer came, Johnson was clearly the team's top HC choice in 2025. After the late-30-something coordinator turned the team down, a pivot to the oldest head coach in NFL history occurred. Carroll secured that honor by coaching at 74. He went 3-14, with win No. 3 coming against a noncommitted Chiefs team.
I like the Raiders position, draft Mendoza that’s your QB set. Jeanty is locked in at RB, Bowers at TE.
You do need to add more in the WR room but you have plenty of spare cap space so I’d rather trade for a guy than draft someone. There’s Ayuik, AJ Brown, DK Metcalfe possibly, Jaylen Waddle, Brain Thomas, maybe Keon Coleman if that’s your cup of tea.
Think you need to retain Crosby on defence and then look build around him. So I’d use my second and third round picks adding solid defenders. Should Crosby want out after another down season a year from now atleast your half set on offence and have a couple young guys on defence, get a good return from him and so be it
O Line is priority #1 if you’re drafting Mendoza. A WR or two and the rest of every last cent on defense.