Though only in the preseason, Fernando Mendoza‘s start in a Las Vegas Raiders jersey hasn’t gone the way he’d hoped.

Yet to eclipse 100 yards in his two games so far, the number one overall pick’s most recent performance was certainly one to forget last night against the Texans. He went just 8-of-15 passing for a total of 86 yards, just six yards more than the return score for rookie Wade Woodaz off of Mendoza’s interception.

Mendoza did not show any lack of effort, chasing Woodaz down at full speed over 50 yards before eventually missing the diving tackle.

Mendoza didn’t have much to say on the interception other than the fact that it was just a “bad throw.” He didn’t offer much insight and doesn’t seem bothered by the mistake, even though it was in his first start.

The Raiders have yet to announce their starting quarterback, but veteran Kirk Cousins is likely to land at the top of the depth chart and ahead of rookie Mendoza. It is important to note that this was likely the case before the poor outing from Mendoza on Thursday, but his rookie year seems to be on track as the number two option, at least for the first half of the season.

This could be a good thing for Mendoza, as carrying the weight of learning and adapting to the NFL while also having to win games has gone poorly in the past for some number one overall picks and can be detrimental to confidence, which can affect your entire career. Especially with a team that hasn’t been very good recently and doesn’t seem projected to do well this year, Cousins’ leadership could be the perfect way to bridge Mendoza into the pros.

Mendoza will likely start some games this season, but he’s a future investment and is embracing his role on the team, whether that is on the bench or starting.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza made an impressive first appearance in an NFL uniform Thursday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown during the Raiders’ preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Mendoza played four drives in the Raiders’ 27-14 loss to the Cardinals, giving Las Vegas fans an early glimpse of the No. 1 overall pick’s potential. His touchdown pass went to second-year wide receiver Jack Bech.

The performance was notable historically as well. Mendoza became the first No. 1 overall pick since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut.

Fernando Mendoza Shows Poise in Raiders Debut

Mendoza’s numbers were solid, but his composure appeared to attract even more attention. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak described the rookie as an “ascending player” after the game, while emphasizing that Mendoza still has plenty to learn as he adjusts to professional football.

The rookie was not completely satisfied with his performance. Following the game, Mendoza acknowledged that he needed to improve his timing and anticipation and said he planned to study the film closely. He even expressed disappointment that he had not done enough for his teammates, despite producing a touchdown on his first NFL preseason appearance.

That self-criticism did not appear to diminish the Raiders’ enthusiasm about his development.

Kirk Cousins Remains Raiders QB1

Despite Mendoza’s encouraging debut, veteran Kirk Cousins remains the expected starter entering the regular season. Cousins played only one series against Arizona and led the Raiders to a touchdown before giving way to the rookie.

That makes Mendoza’s preseason opportunities particularly important. The Raiders can give their highly drafted quarterback meaningful repetitions without immediately placing him under the pressure of starting an NFL regular-season game.

Mendoza entered the league after a spectacular college career at Indiana, where he won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and became the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft. His first preseason performance will inevitably fuel speculation about how quickly he could challenge Cousins for the starting job.

For now, however, the Raiders appear determined to develop him methodically.

The loss to Arizona ultimately matters little in the preseason. For Las Vegas, the bigger story was seeing its prized rookie handle his first extended taste of NFL action — and Mendoza gave the Raiders plenty of reason to remain excited about his future.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and star pass rusher Maxx Crosby were held out of Saturday’s training camp practice, a disciplinary response after the two got into a heated scuffle during Friday’s session that had to be broken up by teammates.

The altercation began during a contentious team period, when Crosby hit Cousins’ throwing arm twice in quick succession. After the second hit, Cousins confronted Crosby, grabbing his jersey and getting in his face before the two were separated amid a heated back-and-forth.

No punches were thrown, according to multiple reports, but the intensity of the exchange between two of the Raiders’ most prominent players was enough to draw a clear response from the coaching staff. It wasn’t the only flare-up of the day, either — defensive lineman Jonah Laulu punched second-year right guard Caleb Rogers earlier in the same practice.

Head coach Klint Kubiak, in his first season leading the Raiders, addressed the incident directly with reporters Saturday, making clear there would be no exceptions to how he wants his team to operate. He said the organization has very clear expectations for how practice and business are conducted, and that those expectations were violated Friday, which is why both players were held out. Kubiak confirmed both Cousins and Crosby would be back on the field for Monday’s practice, but declined to elaborate further, saying the matter had been addressed internally with the team and the organization was ready to move on.

The decision to sideline Cousins gave rookie first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza his first extended opportunity to run the starting offense during training camp, a notable data point given the Raiders open their preseason schedule Thursday night at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Kubiak hasn’t announced how he plans to divide snaps between his quarterbacks in that game, though Mendoza is expected to see meaningful playing time and could even start, with the Raiders widely expected to turn to him as a long-term answer under center at some point this season.

Despite the discipline, several teammates framed the incident in a positive light. Tight end Michael Mayer said the moment reflected the kind of competitive edge Cousins has always carried, saying it’s the sort of fire you want a quarterback to bring in defense of his team. He added that physical scuffles are simply part of padded practices during camp, characterizing Friday’s incident as more about competitive energy than any deeper rift between teammates trying to help turn around a once-proud franchise.

Projected No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, has told the NFL he doesn’t plan to attend the NFL Draft.

Mendoza plans to watch the NFL Draft with his family in Miami. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and are reportedly planning to take Mendoza.

2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward was present at the draft to hear his name called by the Tennessee Titans. However, No. 1 overall picks haven’t been showing up to the draft as much in recent years. Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Travon Walker all didn’t attend the draft. In fairness to Burrow, the draft was in commissioner Roger Goodell’s house due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he didn’t have much say in the matter. 

In the early days of the NFL Draft, it wasn’t televised. This meant if you weren’t present at the NFL Draft, you could go hours, if not days, without knowing if or when you were drafted. Even after the NFL Draft began being televised in 1980, being in the draft room gave prospects early access to news about their draft prospects.

However, in 2026, players receive information about their draft spot via text. Being at the draft has very little upside outside of Goodell giving you the team’s jersey and cap. 

For some prospects, being in the draft room can backfire. In 2018, Lamar Jackson sat patiently for his name to be called. The Baltimore Ravens eventually took him with the No. 32 overall pick. Jackson’s being at the draft sparked conversation about how long it took him to be drafted.  

Shedeur Sanders got an even worse fate. He went undrafted in the first round despite being at the draft. 

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. 

Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million contract. The Raiders are expected to draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cousins previously signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He was released earlier this offseason to clear cap space.

Although his new contract may seem big, there’s important context to add. 2026 is the only guaranteed season. He will make a guaranteed $20 million in 2026. 2027 and 2028 come with team options. If the Raiders decline these options, the contract automatically voids. The final two seasons are void years. The contract gives the Raiders a lot of cap flexibility going forward.

Cousins served as the Falcons’ backup last season. Despite this, he still got to start eight games in 2025 because starter Michael Penix Jr. was hurt. Cousins led the Falcons to a 5-3 record in his starts with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Falcons finished the season on a four-game winning streak with Cousins starting.

Despite playing well, Cousins’s contract was too large to keep paying him. The Raiders get a reliable QB to mentor Mendoza.

Since Patrick Mahomes sat on the bench in his rookie season, it’s become more common for teams to keep their first-round QBs on the bench for most of their rookie season. With Cousins, the Raiders get a reliable starter. He’ll likely be an upgrade over Geno Smith, who led the league in interceptions in 2025. 

On top of that, Cousins also has experience with the new Raiders head coach, Klint Kubiak. They worked together with the Minnesota Vikings. Kubiak was the QB coach in 2019-2020 and the offensive coordinator in 2021. Cousins made two of his four career Pro Bowl appearances with Kubiak as a coach. 

Tom Brady revealed he considered returning to the NFL in an interview with CNBC. 

Brady has not played in the league since 2022. Despite this, his recent performance in a flag football league sparked rumors of his possible return to the NFL.

Brady revealed he has talked with NFL executives about a possible return. However, he said the NFL opposed the idea. Brady is currently a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL executives told CNBC that an owner playing for a team could raise salary cap issues.

Although coming back from an extended retirement is difficult, it’s not impossible. Philip Rivers returned to the Indianapolis Colts after being retired for four seasons. Rivers threw four touchdowns and three interceptions in three games.

If Brady returned in 2026, it would be a shorter gap of time than Rivers. He’d likely want to play for his Raiders.

Last year, the Raiders had Geno Smith at quarterback. Smith led the league in interceptions. It makes sense that Brady thought he might be able to do better. 

However, the QB position will be changing for the Raiders this season. The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They are projected to draft Fernando Mendoza. 

If Brady were to be a player-owner, he’d be following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan. Jordan owned the Washington Wizards while playing for them in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Jordan paid himself $1 million a year while he was a player. However, he donated his 2001-02 salary to Sept. 11 relief efforts.

As of now, Brady will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the 2028 class. Brady is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee, but his head coach, Bill Belichick, didn’t get in on his first year on the ballot, with cheating scandals being cited as the reason for the snub by voters.

After a disastrous 3-14 season, the Las Vegas Raiders will be looking in a new direction for coaching.

Future football hall of famer Pete Carroll was signed by the Raiders last offseason to give them some veteran leadership. His most notable stint was with the Seahawks from 2010 to 2023. He made the playoffs in 10 of his 14 seasons, including a Super Bowl XLVIII title. After missing the playoffs in 2023, the Seahawks and Carroll mutually agreed to part ways. 

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

After a season off in 2024, Carroll returned to the NFL with the Raiders in 2025. Carroll was the oldest coach in NFL history, turning 74 during the Raiders’ week 2 game. 

The Raiders’ poor record is a product of poor roster building and outdated coaching.

The Raiders let several defensive veterans like Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane and Nate Hobbs walk. Instead, they focused on offensive improvements, trading for Geno Smith and drafting Ashton Jeanty. Smith, in particular, didn’t work out, as he threw 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. 

Carroll has generally relied on veterans to lead the rosters. He likes to let the players build the team culture.

However, since the Raiders lost several veterans in the offseason, they needed to rely on Carroll.

Although Carroll prevented a complete collapse of the locker room, it was pretty clear he couldn’t create a culture either. His game management was very old-school, with conservative fourth-down decisions, playing for field position, and trusting the defense to hold the line.

Overall, Carroll was hired to build the roster from scratch. In reality, he’s best suited to join a roster that’s already got its core, but needs a coach who allows them to be the best version of themselves.

As of now, it’s unclear if Carroll will get another job in the NFL, but if a playoff team loses earlier than expected, they might give the coaching legend a call.

Last month, wide receiver Amari Cooper signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year contract, returning to the team that drafted him a decade ago.

According to NFL Insider reports, the 10-season and five-time Pro Bowl veteran agreed to a $3.5 million deal with the Raiders. The contract includes $500,00 in per-game roster bonuses and $2 million in additional incentives.

The signing reunites Cooper with the franchise, formerly based in Oakland, which picked him fourth overall in the 2015 draft.

Cooper spent over three seasons with the Raiders before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. He later played for the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, with 154 games and 10,033 receiving yards in his entire career.

For the first half of last season, Cooper played for the Browns, totaling six games and 24 receptions. Cooper then played for the Bills, playing only eight games in the second half of the season and had a career low of only 20 receptions.

The news of Cooper’s signing came shortly after reports of the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers requesting a trade out due to stalled contract negotiations. Cooper is an experienced target for quarterback Geno Smith as the Raiders continue to move around their roster.

In this year’s draft, the Raiders prioritized bringing in new receivers, including TCU’s Jack Bech and Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton in the fourth round. Thornton proved a good choice in training camp and was listed on the Raiders’ first team alongside veterans Meyers and Tre Tucker.

But just a week after signing with the Raiders, Cooper told the team he’d be retiring from the NFL. “It’s unfortunate because I think he’s a heck of a football player,” Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. “But he knows in his heart what he wants to do, so I wish him the best.”

Las Vegas entered 2024 with a lot of hope, entering the season with a brand new head coach in Antonio Pierce and a newly signed quarterback, Gardner Minshew. The hope would quickly disappear after they suffered several injuries and failed to live up to the hype they had before the season. The Raiders would go 4-13, having one of the worst records in the league, and would end up benching Minshew during the season. The biggest news of the season was the firing of Pierce, who took over as interim head coach in 2023 before being hired in 2024, but would only last one year for the Raiders.

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The Raiders entered the offseason knowing they would need a brand new culture and to rebuild a weaker roster. Enter Pete Carroll, newly hired 73-year-old head coach and Super Bowl champion. Las Vegas would bring in Carroll, who had previously coached the Seattle Seahawks and had a 137-89-1 record with the team before parting ways with them before the 2024 season. Carroll brings a winning culture to the Raiders that they have not had for years, and their first move was trading for quarterback Geno Smith from the Seahawks, whom Carroll had previously coached before leaving Seattle.

Smith finally brings some stability to the offense, which had quarterback woes all of last season, pairing him up with tight end Brock Bowers, who set a record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end with 1,194. The Raiders also extended star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to a three-year $106.5 million extension, keeping him with the team until 2029. They also signed several free agents, including safety Jeremy Chinn, linebackers Devin White and Germaine Pratt, to improve their defense. They signed guard Alex Cappa, running back Raheem Mostert and tight end Ian Thomas to help their offense.

Heading into the NFL draft, the Raiders held the sixth overall pick and chose running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State University, who was the runner-up in the Heisman voting this last college football season. Jeanty is one of the most anticipated running back prospects of all time after rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. The Raiders would also make some big selections in the draft, taking wide receiver Jack Bech, cornerback Darien Porter and guard Caleb Rogers in the second and third rounds.

With a much-improved roster, the Raiders enter 2025 with a lot to prove, playing in one of the toughest divisions in football. The Raiders also have the 16th most challenging schedule in the NFL next season, according to Fox Sports, opening their season vs the New England Patriots in New England. The Raiders’ key matchups will come against their division rivals, the Chiefs, Chargers, and Bronco, playing each of them twice throughout the regular season. The Raiders also have key matchups vs the Commanders in week three and the Eagles in week 15.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS SCHEDULE & TICKET DEALS

• Week 1: Sept. 7 at New England Patriots
• Week 2: Sept. 15 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Monday Night Football)
• Week 3: Sept. 21 at Washington Commanders
• Week 4: Sept. 28 vs. Chicago Bears
• Week 5: Oct. 5 at Indianapolis Colts
• Week 6: Oct. 12 vs. Tennessee Titans
• Week 7: Oct. 19 at Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 8: Bye Week
• Week 9: Nov. 2 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 10: Nov. 6 at Denver Broncos (Thursday Night Football)
• Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night Football)
• Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. Cleveland Browns
• Week 13: Nov. 30 at Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 14: Dec. 7 vs. Denver Broncos
• Week 15: Dec. 14 at Philadelphia Eagles
• Week 16: Dec. 21 at Houston Texans
• Week 17: vs. New York Giants
• Week 18: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders Season/Games Odds

Las Vegas will have a lot to prove with its reshaped roster in 2025, having only +12000 odds of winning the Super Bowl and +5000 of winning the AFC Championship. The Raiders open their season as +3-point underdogs against the Patriots and are only favored in four games this season. 

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Heading into the offseason, it was widely reported that minority owner and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady would have input into the Las Vegas Raiders’ offseason decisions.

The Raiders, who won just four games last season, entered the offseason needing a new quarterback. The QB room in 2024 featured Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder.

Michael Silver of The Athletic revealed that Brady did not want the Raiders to invest in Sam Darnold.

“While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady—a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway—was not in favor of that approach,” Silver wrote.

Going into the offseason, the Raiders were considered one of the favorites to sign Darnold. Brady’s opinion pointed the team in a different direction.

The Raiders instead opted for free-agent quarterback Geno Smith, whom they signed to a two-year, $75 million contract.

Darnold signed with Smith’s former team, the Seattle Seahawks, on a three-year, $100.5 million contract.

Last season, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. He led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record and a playoff appearance.

The Raiders’ offense is primed to take a step up behind a former Pro Bowl quarterback and sixth overall pick, Ashton Jeanty.

Following his departure from the Las Vegas Raiders at the end of the 2023 season, running back Josh Jacobs has been clear about his problems with the team. Jacobs revealed some details in an interview earlier this year, but was even more explicit about the breakdown of his relationship with the Raiders as a guest on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast.

“It gets to a certain point, you’re not going to keep disrespecting me,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs was drafted by the Raiders 24th overall in 2019 and spent the first five years of his career with Las Vegas. He put up 5,545 yards and 46 touchdowns in those five years, making the Pro Bowl twice and being named first-team All-Pro once, in 2022. But when contract negotiations came up, Jacobs claimed, the Raiders didn’t want to pay up.

“I was legitimately 65% of the offense that year, and you telling me you will not pay the guy that did everything for the team,” Jacobs said. “How does that make sense? … It really hurt my heart because I tried to stay. I did everything in my power to stay.”

Jacobs had built a house in Las Vegas and planned to call it home for the rest of his career. But he felt scorned by what he claimed was a lowball, $10 million per year deal without incentives or the benefit of term. He ended up signing with the Green Bay Packers at $48 million over four years, with millions in roster and signing bonuses built in.

Jacobs has discussed the negotiations before. This time, though, he took aim at the Raiders as an organization – their coaching carousel and one particular “decision-maker” he declined to name.

“I’m not going to say who it was, but it’s a guy that make decisions,” Jacobs said. “He’s talking too much and thinking it’s not going to get back to me and everything is getting back to me… He’s basically like ‘[Josh] needs the money.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t need no money. I could quit playing right now. I’m great.’”

“So I’m like, ‘Where are you getting this information from? Why do you think that you got the leverage when I just led the NFL in everything there is for a running back?’”

And that’s what it boils down to, on Jacobs’ end: the feeling of disrespect.

“You’re bringing in these coaches every other year, new coaches, and now, these new coaches is telling me I didn’t already have three 1,000-yard seasons. You telling me I have to prove myself like I’m a rookie, you treating me like a rookie… Then afterwards you’re basically like, ‘Yeah, you played good, but we’re going to franchise tag you.’”

Jacobs posted 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 for the Packers, who finished 11-6 and made the playoffs. The Raiders, who finished 4-13, had the lowest rushing yards per game in the NFL.

Las Vegas brought in a new head coach and general manager this offseason, and will be looking to hit it big on another drafted running back: Ashton Jeanty.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs still keeps in frequent contact with former NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. Jacobs revealed that his former college teammate is still training and hopeful for a return to the NFL.

“When you come out, man, I don’t know if you will get a chance,” Jacobs said on The Pivot Podcast. “I’ve been talking to some people for him. They’ve been saying a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance.”

Ruggs, the former 12th overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL draft, is in prison after pleading guilty to one count of driving under the influence resulting in a death and vehicular manslaughter.

Ruggs is eligible for parole on August 5, 2026.

In his two seasons in the NFL, Ruggs has totaled 921 yards and four touchdowns. His most notable touchdown came as a walk-off hail mary against the New York Jets in his rookie season.

“He’s a good kid,” Jacobs said. “He was just one of them guys that have a very, very unfortunate situation and something happened, a decision that he made.”

If Ruggs returns to the NFL, there are multiple teams in need of a wide receiver who could take a shot on him. He was at one point considered one of the brightest receiver prospects in football.

The Las Vegas Raiders selected running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. It wasn’t a surprising selection.

A running back going in the top ten is uncommon, particularly in recent years, as their relative positional value has declined. When the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson eighth overall in 2023, the fan reaction was excitement mixed with skepticism. Why, then, was it so certain that Jeanty would go two spots earlier?

Well, for one, new Raiders general manager John Spytek‘s son warned him he would “walk out of the family” if the team didn’t take Jeanty.

It was a joking comment, but it represents how special Jeanty is as a player. In three years at Boise State, Jeanty put up 4,769 rushing yards, including a massive 2,601 in 2024, where he also rushed for 29 touchdowns. And it wasn’t about the quality of his opponents, either; Jeanty gashed then-first-ranked Oregon for 192 yards and three touchdowns in September. If you’re on social media at all, you’ve seen the seemingly endless compilations of Jeanty breaking tackles – he just doesn’t seem to go down.

At Boise State, Jeanty demonstrated that he could carry an offense. The Broncos went 12-2, including 7-0 in conference, and made the playoffs.

Now, as a rookie in an offense that also features pieces like Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, Jeanty won’t have to do quite as much heavy lifting. Still, at No. 6, the Raiders will expect him to start Week 1.

“[Jeanty’s] ability to make plays when it doesn’t look like there’s [anything] there, Marshawn did that throughout his career,” said new head coach Pete Carroll. “There’s a special makeup in Ashton.”

“I’m always looking for special qualities, unique things that they’re able to do with their vision, body control, toughness and speed. [Jeanty] is not a guy that’s going to just run into the wall. He’s going to find his way for the most space available with his marvelous creativity.”

The Raiders, who averaged a league-low 3.6 yards per rush last season, have revamped their offense, from the head coach to the general manager to the quarterback. Mark Davis, the team’s owner, emphasized their “win-now” mentality.

As far as revamping the running game goes, Jeanty isn’t a bad place to start.

Darnay Holmes remains with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders have re-signed Holmes to a one-year contract, a source told uSports, though the terms remain undisclosed.

Holmes appeared in 16 games for the Raiders last season, starting once. He recorded 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and three passes deflected.

A fourth-round pick by the New York Giants in 2020, Holmes played 54 games for the team, amassing 115 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, a half-sack, 18 passes deflected, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been not-so-secretly plying free agency and the Draft for a 2025 starting quarterback following a dismal season from their carousel of backup quarterbacks. On Thursday, this finally materialized, as the team traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in what many have deemed a steal.

Unsurprisingly, this move reportedly involves releasing Gardner Minshew, whom Las Vegas signed to a two-year, $25 million contract in 2024. Minshew, 28, began the season in the starting role but struggled. He threw nine touchdowns and ten interceptions in the ten games he led the Raiders’ offense before suffering a broken collarbone in Week 12. The team went 2-8 with him at the helm.

Las Vegas doesn’t gain a ton of cap space by cutting Minshew—only around $3 million while maintaining over $10 million in dead cap—but it does cast off what has become increasingly clear is a liability. Even if the organization was confident there was an upward trajectory, Minshew’s three benchings in his first nine games established a low, low floor.

Prior to acquiring Smith, the Raiders made a run at Matthew Stafford, who elected to restructure his contract with the Los Angeles Rams instead. The organization reportedly prefers veteran quarterbacks, so the Smith deal makes sense.

Smith, 34, has one year at $31 million left on his contract, which saw him make the Pro Bowl twice in six years in Seattle. He’ll now reunite with head coach Pete Carroll, who coached the Seahawks in all but one of those six seasons.

On a lackluster 2024 Seahawks offense, Smith broke team records in passing yards and completion rate, posting 4,320 yards with 21 touchdowns for a completion percentage of 70.4%. He also lobbed 15 interceptions – good for third most in the NFL. Overall, though, Smith is a steady starting quarterback in a league where that’s an increasingly valuable commodity, which is why the return of a single third-round draft pick is controversial (read: a steal for the Raiders).

The acquisition of a veteran quarterback reads as consistent for a Raiders squad that just signed Maxx Crosby for a record $106 million. For a team that finished with a 4-13 record, Las Vegas is all in on “winning now.”

“We are trying to take it as far as we can as soon as we possibly can,” said Carroll at the NFL Combine. “I’m not looking for a grace period…. I don’t think that way at all.”

With the combination of Smith and Carroll, as well as Crosby and star tight end Brock Bowers entering his sophomore season, the Raiders should look better than they did last year. How much better, though, time will tell.

The Minnesota Vikings had a shockingly successful 2024 NFL season – at least relative to expectations – in large part due to the meteoric rise of quarterback Sam Darnold, a journeyman quarterback on a one-year deal. His presumptive price and the drafting of J.J. McCarthy, though, made Darnold remaining unlikely in the long-term. Now, following a Wild Card meltdown, it’s time for the Vikings to revive the quarterback question.

Darnold put up 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024, with a passer rating of 102.5. He also effectively won the Vikings’ Wild Card matchup for the opposing Los Angeles Rams, spontaneously losing pocket awareness so thoroughly that he was sacked nine times. His QBR was 13.6.

Regardless of regular season performance, it’s difficult to justify retaining a quarterback who’s let the fans down in a moment of such spectacular hope.

As a contract seems increasingly unlikely, the next viable option for the Vikings would be a franchise tag – which would guarantee Darnold a bit over $40 million in 2025 and around $48.3 million for 2026 if he is tagged again. That number would eat up over two thirds of Minnesota’s cap space for 2025. While it would remain an option to trade Darnold under the tag, there’s no certainty of a deal. Unsurprisingly, there is reportedly “not much momentum” on the side of the franchise tag.

Meanwhile, with Matthew Stafford off the table, teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers are willing to pay a lot for a veteran quarterback. If Darnold hits free agency on March 12, he’ll have no shortage of suitors.

The Raiders and Giants are reportedly the most serious contenders, and that has a lot to do with desperation. If you watched football this season, you may remember that the Raiders split time between three backup-pedigree quarterbacks, while the Giants benched and then cut Daniel Jones, their former ‘quarterback of the future.”

The most likely scene is this: three or four teams each backed into their own corner, hoping Darnold will solve their QB worries. Darnold, who will take advantage of the high-pressure quarterback market to secure a deal for probably more than he’s worth.

And the Vikings? Well, star wideout Justin Jefferson isn’t worried about that.

“I’m not sure who the quarterback is going to be, and just like I said last year, it truly doesn’t matter personally to me,” Jefferson said. “It doesn’t matter who’s going to throw me that ball, I’m gonna make the most of my opportunities. I’m gonna try to make him look like the best quarterback in the whole NFL.”

The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback room has been a revolving door for the past two seasons.

It began when they released mainstay Derek Carr (who has also now been released by the New Orleans Saints). Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and even Desmond Ridder all took snaps in the 2024 season, none with particular success. And now the Raiders find themselves in the same situation as an offseason ago, searching for a bona fide starting quarterback.

The team’s 4-13 record looks nicer than it felt, bolstered by two late-season wins that took them out of the running for the first few draft picks. Picking sixth, the Raiders were all but consigned to finding a quarterback through free agency – where they were reportedly targeting Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was granted permission to discuss with other teams amid a turbulent contract renegotiation.

The offseason courting process is generally a straightforward one. Through a serendipitous and still-murky series of events, though, the Raiders’ quest for Stafford may have become quite nontraditional.

Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz reported on Wednesday that Raiders minority owner Tom Brady had “hosted [Stafford] at his home in Montana, where they spent time together and went skiing,” presumably as a part of the Raiders’ “aggressive” pursuit of Stafford. The report raised resistance – alternate reports called the meeting “unplanned” and “an Internet rumor” – along with scrutiny about potential tampering.

The Raiders were reportedly willing to give Stafford $90 to $100 million, and Brady was indisputably a part of the “strong pitch” they offered. As it turns out, though, any of the Raiders’ alleged tactics have fallen by the wayside. Stafford, who agreed to a restructured deal with Los Angeles on Friday, isn’t heading to Vegas.

Despite their dismal last couple seasons, the Raiders continue to insist they’re in ‘win-now’ mode. With Stafford off the table, the temperature is only increasing for the team to secure a viable quarterback – or resign themselves to another year of flat mediocrity.

Pete Carroll, the Super Bowl-winning coach of the Seattle Seahawks, has finalized a deal to become the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. A return to the NFL after many thought his head-coaching career had ended.

Carroll and the Raiders agreed on a three-year contract with a fourth-year option. He returns to the sidelines in Las Vegas after stepping away from the Seahawks at the end of the 2023 season.

Since moving from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020, the Raiders have cycled through four head coaches, including interims, with Carroll becoming the fifth. He now joins a list of coaches under Mark Davis‘ ownership stretching back to 2011, totaling nine when interims are included. The group features Hue Jackson, Dennis Allen, Tony Sparano, Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce. 

Carroll, the most successful coach in Seahawks history, now faces the challenge of rebuilding the Raiders. His career record of 170-120-1 across stints with the Seahawks, Patriots, and Jets, along with his success at USC and Seattle in similar rebuilds, suggests that he has the tools to turn the team around.

Carroll’s hiring comes with a touch of irony for Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. 

Brady, heavily involved in the coaching search, defeated Carroll’s Seahawks on Feb. 1, 2015, to claim one of his seven Super Bowl titles.

When the regular season begins, Carroll will become the oldest head coach in NFL history, turning 74 in September. He will break the previous mark of 73 set by Romeo Crennel during his stint as interim head coach of the Texans.

The Raiders’ last playoff win came after their 2002 Super Bowl appearance. It’s up to Carroll to help them break that dry spell.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job. Johnson interviewed with a number of teams during the Lions’ playoff bye last weekend, and impressed the Raiders’ organization.

Despite garnering massive attention among rebuilding teams entering their off-seasons, Johnson’s sixth season with the Lions is far from over. His future prospects will not be on his mind for as long as the first-seeded Lions are still kicking.

“I’m going to stay focused on the main thing right here, and that’s going to be the Washington Commanders,” Johnson said during a press conference Wednesday. “That’s what we’re about. [Dan Campbell] asked me about how it went this weekend. It went great, and that’s the end of it. The focus right here and now for the players, for the coaching staff and for everybody in this building is about this game this week.”

After kickstarting his coaching career at Boston College and later rising through the ranks with the Miami Dolphins, Johnson arrived in Detroit in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach. He accepted roles as the tight ends coach and passing game coordinator before finally landing the offensive coordinator job in 2022, one season after Campbell was hired as head coach. The two have since worked together to turn the Lions’ offense into one of the best in the league.

With an elite offensive background in an increasingly scoring-oriented league, Johnson would be a natural target for any number of struggling teams in the league. The Chicago Bears are looking to build a new scheme around young quarterback Caleb Williams. 

The Jaguars have been trying to find a complement to quarterback Trevor Lawrence for years. The Jets are about to begin another rebuild, something Johnson saw firsthand in Detroit. From countless angles, his time with the Lions has made him a universally desirable head coaching hire. Prospective teams, on the other hand, offer little more than problems to fix.

Like their fellow cellar mates, the Raiders have their own share of dysfunction. They have a certain allure as well, however. Moving from Oakland to Las Vegas has put the team at the center of a new sports market. Tom Brady just bought a minority share in the team and is taking an active role in shaping the organization. Tight end Brock Bowers is coming off one of the greatest rookie seasons in the history of the position, working with almost no support around him.

Despite a horrific 4-13 season in 2024, there is enough happening in Las Vegas to tempt a coach like Johnson to sign on. The team is reportedly searching for a new quarterback, which could allow Johnson to immediately begin to shape his own offense in his first season as head coach. There’s very little that he would have to inherit, as there’s very little the Raiders would want to keep from past coaching regimes. 

For now, Johnson’s coaching future is unknown as he concludes his epic run with the Detroit Lions. But if he chooses to step out on his own when the music finally stops, Las Vegas is one of many teams that seem content to leave the light on for him.

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New UNC football head coach Bill Belichick has reportedly declined several opportunities to return to the NFL next season, including a position with the Las Vegas Raiders. Minority owner Tom Brady is said to have personally delivered a pitch to Belichick, but the 72-year-old coach is standing by the Tar Heels.

At Belichick’s introductory press conference last month, he told reporters that he didn’t “come here to leave,” expressing a deep interest in coaching at the collegiate level.

Bell Belichick News

“I always wanted to coach in college football but it never really worked out,” Belichick said. “I did some good years in the NFL, and that went OK, but this is really kind of a dream come true.” 

With the game of coaching musical chairs starting up at the end of the NFL’s regular season, it’s natural that Belichick would be one of many coaches to receive calls from rebuilding teams. He has not been afraid to quickly jump ship in the past; his decision to leave the Jets in 2000 without ever having coached a game for the team led directly to his dynastic years in New England. 

Within two days of the 2024 season ending, the Jaguars, Patriots and Raiders all parted ways with their head coaches. The Jets, Bears and Saints did so earlier in the season and are looking for ways forward as well. All six teams are at some stage of a rebuild, as opposed to the relatively clean slate Belichick is receiving at UNC.

Some speculated that Belichick, the oldest coach in college football when he steps on the sidelines next fall, would struggle to adjust to the rapidly shifting NIL landscape. But the eight-time Super Bowl winner has hit the ground running, stepping directly on the recruiting trail in an effort to build a new core in Chapel Hill.  

After a moderately successful foray into the transfer portal, through which Belichick has already gained at least 13 players, he began recruiting high school prospects earlier this week. In his first stop Monday, he met with edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes, a four-star recruit who decommitted from UNC when the program parted ways with head coach Mack Brown. Griffin-Haynes was reportedly impressed by his conversation with Belichick, however, and could rejoin the Tar Heels’ incoming class.

“He was telling me stuff coaches never told me,” Griffin-Haynes told Rivals. “Showing me stuff about my game, and just telling me stuff about the NFL and the program’s come up.”

Brady and others may make a few more calls to get Belichick back in the big leagues, but within a month, the future Hall-of-Famer has jumped into his new position feet-first. New talent is pouring into Chapel Hill already, and the off-season is far from over.