The Las Vegas Raiders are stuck in a nightmare of endless losing, facing the grim prospect of yet another 23 seasons without tasting playoff glory if they don't shake things up from top to bottom.
But here's where it gets controversial... This streak of futility isn't just bad luck—it's a pattern that's lasted 23 straight years, and unless drastic shifts happen now, fans might be waiting just as long for the next big breakthrough. Or even longer.
The most recent offseason promised a fresh start for the Raiders, a real turning point. They overhauled everything, bringing in legendary figures like Tom Brady and Richard Seymour as minority owners. They lured John Spytek from the Buccaneers to be their general manager and convinced the 74-year-old Pete Carroll to leave retirement and take the coaching reins.
When it came to the team roster, the Raiders did what they've always done: went for the big, bold moves. Back in 2019, they swapped two draft picks with the Steelers for the talented but troubled receiver Antonio Brown. He never suited up for them and got let go. In 2022, Las Vegas traded first- and second-round picks to snag All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, then locked him in with a five-year, $141 million contract. He stuck around for two full seasons and three games before being shipped to the Jets. This year, they inked defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110 million deal. He played just five games before being cut.
This season, the Raiders traded a third-round pick to the Seahawks for quarterback Geno Smith. The early signs aren't encouraging—think Peyton Manning's frustration over a interception thrown right into triple coverage, as detailed in a recent SI article.
Currently, the Raiders sit at 2-8, after a humiliating 33-16 loss at home to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Smith has been dreadful, sharing the league lead with Miami's Tua Tagovailoa at 13 interceptions. And Carroll, who was supposed to revolutionize the team's culture alongside Spytek, has only made the problems worse.
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The whole season has been a complete mess, kicking off with the surprising release of Wilkins on July 24—barely three days after veterans reported to camp. Fast-forward to now, and if this isn't the absolute low point, it's hard to imagine what could be worse. With only two wins, they might have a slight edge in upcoming home games against the Browns and Giants. But beyond that, they're facing tough playoff contenders like the Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Eagles, and Texans.
The roster looks as weak as it did in the early Derek Carr days, when the team—still in Oakland—started 0-4 under Dennis Allen and then dropped six in a row under interim coach Tony Sparano back in 2014.
If the NFL wiped out all contracts and held a massive 32-team draft where every player was fair game, Raiders' second-year All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and 28-year-old edge rusher Maxx Crosby would be gone in the first 50 picks. After that, there could easily be 200 more selections before anyone else from Las Vegas's squad got taken. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who was the No. 6 overall pick in 2025, might catch some eyes, but he's only managed 547 rushing yards at a modest 3.8 yards per carry.
Owner Mark Davis, if he truly wants to contend in a division packed with heavy hitters like the three-time AFC champion Chiefs, the rising Broncos, and the Chargers led by Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh, must embrace real change. And not just swapping names on office doors—it's the entire way the organization operates that needs a shake-up.
And this is the part most people miss... Davis should prioritize building a stronger scouting department. Since relocating to Las Vegas ahead of the 2020 season, they've drafted 48 players (37 before this year's class), but only Bowers has earned Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition. Without him, none of the others could be considered stars.
Davis also needs to stop shelling out big money for players whose prime days are behind them. Wilkins arrived at 28 with 20.5 career sacks under his belt. Smith was let go by Seattle for a late second-day pick because, at 35 and fresh off a season with 15 interceptions, he's seen as past his peak. Carroll is the oldest coach in the league, and in his last four years with the Seahawks, he couldn't secure a single playoff victory.
For years, the Raiders have relied on borrowing other teams' superstars, trading for big names while cycling through recycled coaches like Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, and now Carroll—four out of their last five head coaches.
It's time for Davis to create a true identity and culture around young, homegrown talent, anchored by a quarterback who's not just mediocre or temporary. Since Rich Gannon led them to the Super Bowl in 2002, they've cycled through 25 starting quarterbacks. Only Derek Carr found any real success, earning four Pro Bowls but going just 77-92 overall.
As the season winds down, another long offseason looms for the Raiders. They should think hard about trading Crosby, who has four years left on his deal with only $30 million guaranteed. He could bring back at least a first-round and a second-day pick. With what should be another top-10 draft choice (currently slotted at No. 6 according to Tankathon), they need to strike gold in any position. Plus, they should avoid big-name free-agent signings to keep their salary cap flexible for the future.
The Raiders have been wandering lost in the desert for ages, long before they ever moved to one. They've chased every flashy big-name ploy, only to fail time and again.
If they ever hope to claim a playoff win in the next quarter-century, it all begins with transformation.
Everything.
What do you think—should the Raiders abandon their high-stakes trades for stars and focus on building from within, or is there still a place for big splashes in modern NFL? Do you agree that hiring Pete Carroll at his age was a risky move, or could it pay off yet? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's debate the Raiders' future!
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