It has been far too long since the Las Vegas Raiders delivered a product worthy of their history. The organization has drifted far from its former status as a perennial powerhouse over the course of twenty-three chaotic years, with 13 head coaches, five general managers, and a constant turnover of coordinators. Theories are endless, but excuses are exhausted. It’s time to fix it.
From the top…
Building a good culture and obtaining and maintaining a winning attitude—gag me, please. Ownership needs to be a helluva lot less tolerant of losing, period. Be decisive in all actions taken and deliberate while taking action. On the field and off. Utilize every talent acquisition method known and be ruthless in pursuit of innovation.
The organization is a brand and the product is the business of football. Politics behind the scenes and finger-pointing have prevailed for too long. It’s time for the adults in the room to take over and the foolishness to cease.
A new mantra and philosophical football belief must be established because the old one no longer works. It has been overdue and necessitated by a new home. More importantly, it provides a much-needed source of foundation and stability. Establishing the way things will be done moving forward.
The Front Office
A premier scouting department is essential for any regime with long-term ambitions. Recent Raiders history proves that it doesn’t matter who is in charge if the roster lacks talent. Hope, “maybe,” and “if” are not evaluation standards—they are warning signs. Too often, they have cost people their jobs.
Retaining homegrown talent should be a priority, especially for a defense that has been the team’s most reliable unit under coordinator Patrick Graham. Yet through free agency, the Raiders lost core defensive contributors because general manager John Spytek declined to pay market value:
- Trevon Moehrig: 3 years, $51 million
- Nate Hobbs: 4 years, $48 million
- Robert Spillane: 3 years, $33 million
- Divine Deablo: 2 years, $14 million
- K’Lavon Chaisson: 1 year, $3 million
- Marcus Epps: 1 year, $2.025 million
Three of these players are now thriving with the AFC East-leading Patriots. All but one landed on winning teams. Meanwhile, the Raiders spent just $65.2 million—the fifth-least in the league—on their 2025 free-agent class to replace them. The result has been predictable: inconsistency and frustration. The question remains—why?
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NFL Free Agency 2026: What do the Raiders do?
Spytek enters 2026 with the NFL’s second-most cap space ($107.03 million) and third-most effective cap space (just under $80 million). Failing to spend aggressively would be unacceptable and bordering on negligence.
The offensive line should be the main focus of the overhaul. Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson currently serve as the anchors, but the Raiders need to acquire two starting-caliber guards—or potentially a guard and a center. Additionally, they should be prepared to upgrade at either tackle if the right opportunity arises.
Zion Johnson is expected to re-sign with the Chargers, but if he hits the market, he should be a top-priority target. The same goes for Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. Breaking the bank for two linemen in the same offseason isn’t ideal, but a unit featuring Miller, Powers-Johnson, Linderbaum and Johnson would set the Raiders up for a decade. Veteran guard Wyatt Teller is a viable fallback option.
Skill Positions
The Raiders need a true No. 1 receiver, someone who can elevate an offense still lacking a reliable starting quarterback. Potential options include George Pickens, Deebo Samuel, or a developmental but high-upside player like Jalen Coker.
Cornerback remains another glaring issue. While water covers two-thirds of the earth, Raiders corners routinely give up the remaining third before the snap. Targets should include Tariq Woolen, Alontae Taylor, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Chidobe Awuzie—with premium focus on Woolen or Melifonwu.
Linebacker play sets the tone for any defense. Devin White has earned consideration for a short-term deal, while pairing him with Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker could be a home run. Drake Thomas is an underrated option with starter potential.
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In the trenches…
Jumping from worst to first requires precision. The 2026 defensive tackle class doesn’t offer great value relative to cost, but Levi Onwuzurike and John Franklin-Meyers are two names worth monitoring as true interior solutions.
Pre-draft strategy…
Draft evaluations continue until the clock runs out, but the Raiders finally appear ready to address the quarterback position in the first round for the first time in nearly two decades. Fernando Mendoza currently leads the class, with Ty Simpson close behind. If either is available when the Raiders pick, securing the future is non-negotiable.
After securing a franchise quarterback, the next focus should be on rebuilding the offensive line from the ground up. With a total of 10 draft picks, the Raiders should aim to acquire at least five new linemen, which would include two guards and two tackles. The specific positions will depend on the outcomes of free agency.
Some parting words…
If free agency goes according to plan, the majority of spending will likely go toward offense. The draft, then, becomes the ideal place to fortify the defense—particularly to size up the middle, which the Raiders sorely lack.
The draft also creates opportunities to pair rookies with veterans, building continuity and keeping the defensive “circle of life” intact. Addressing the team’s shortage of edge pressure, speed and length must follow.
Now is the moment for Spytek to get aggressive. No more “We tried; they wanted too much.” Nothing in the NFL comes free. If the Raiders want to rise again, they must be willing to pay the price, make bold trades and stop playing scared.
The path from worst to first is never easy. But for the Raiders, it’s long overdue.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images