'There's always a level of laziness there' – Isaiah Pola-Mao still wants to earn the starting role despite new contract from Raiders
2025 could be a really big year for the Las Vegas Raiders. Not in the way that they will compete for or even win a Super Bowl — that's just not realistic. But, this team is set up to win significantly more amount of games in 2025. And, let's be honest, it shouldn't be hard […]
2025 could be a really big year for the Las Vegas Raiders. Not in the way that they will compete for or even win a Super Bowl — that's just not realistic. But, this team is set up to win significantly more amount of games in 2025.
And, let's be honest, it shouldn't be hard to win more than four games. But, it feels like this team could really push for 10 wins, but the realistic predictions seem to be about eight wins in 2025, with maybe a battle for a wildcard spot if all goes well. They have made the types of changes to where that is a realistic expectation.
But there are some wildcards. We don't know how good or bad a few of the position groups will be. The linebacker room could be very bad, or they could be serviceable. The secondary could be very good with a lot of potential to grow, considering how young they are.
Or, they could be kind of bad. I don't think it's crazy to say the safety room is a bit of a wildcard, too. The two starters are two players who were not the starters this time last year. Isaiah Pola-Mao ended up being a starter because of an injury to Marcus Epps against the Carolina Panthers.
Now, Pola-Mao is the starter heading into 2025. He could be a very good player, but he still wants to earn that starting job, despite the Raiders making him the starter this offseason with a pretty nice contract.
“I love it here, so I'm excited to be here," Pola-Mao told reporters. "And my hard work paid off, it's not done yet, got to keep going… There's always a level of laziness there, you know what I'm saying. But being undrafted, I think I kind of just always have that chip on my shoulder. No matter what happens, I'm never complacent. Always want to keep going… I don't think it changes anything.
"I think it's more of, for me, I want to earn that starting role. Like last year, I was kind of shoved into that role by default. But I want to earn that starting role. I want to earn the trust of the guys and the coaches. So, like I said, this is a new defense. Nothing last year matters. So, it's a new start for me, a new start for everybody else. That's where I'm starting.”
The Raiders signed Pola-Mao to a two-year, $7.45 million contract, including a $1.5 million signing bonus, and $3.5 million guaranteed. That's definitely something that he earned, as the Raiders didn't just give it to him for no reason. They believe in him.
But you love to see that mindset from him, because he is still a young player. But, according to Sports Info Solution, Pola-Mao played more than 500 pass coverage snaps and allowed a completion percentage of 60% when targeted, which isn't great, but it's not terrible. So, you kind of get what he is saying in that he wants his play on the field to prove that he is a starter-level player.
I think we all know he can be that.
