Las Vegas Raiders' new general manager John Spytek already knew what he was walking into in terms of the current roster
The Las Vegas Raiders have finished the last three years out of the playoffs. Their last time being in the playoffs, was with Rich Bisaccia as the interim head coach when they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round. Three years later, the Raiders have had an elite defense and a terrible offense, […]
The Las Vegas Raiders have finished the last three years out of the playoffs. Their last time being in the playoffs, was with Rich Bisaccia as the interim head coach when they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round. Three years later, the Raiders have had an elite defense and a terrible offense, the opposite of what it was then. There have been moments where we thought the roster going into 2023 or 2024 was better than that playoff year.
But, in reality, they weren't. And, maybe on paper, they were, but in terms of fit and scheme, they weren't even close. The Raiders have a bad roster right now, and a lot of work to do before they get back to the playoffs. The good thing is, that they get to get an early start on some of the offseason things that will require them to build the roster up, as compared to teams who made the playoffs.
But, with a new general manager and a new head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders could go through a complete reset. Either way, the guys who took the job know what they signed up for. The guy building the roster knows what he's walking into.
"Well, my job for the past nine years has been to see the NFL in its totality every year, so yes, I'm familiar with it," John Spytek said when asked if he is familiar with the roster. "We obviously played the Raiders this year in Tampa Bay (vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)… The scouts are in charge of finding the right kind of people to bring into an organization. We want it to be a hard team to make. We want it to be a hard job every day.
"But for those who are willing to step up to that challenge and be a part of that, there will be a great reward at the end of that. I'm less concerned about roster construction right now. We've got some really good players in this building. Really good, and everybody knows that. They know who they are. Our job is going to be to find more of them, but it's going to start with the person."
This time last year the Raiders and Tom Telesco were getting right to work. And, he made some really good moves in free agency, and some really bad ones, like the signing of Gardner Minshew. Telesco also made some good moves throughout the season, like the addition of K'Lavon Chassion, the former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick who was written off as a bust.
It feels like Spytek will be able to do that as well and identify players who deserve to be on the Raiders, not just players who are good and talented. With the Reeses Senior Bowl going on at the moment, the Raiders can get right to work with the 2025 NFL Draft prep they will have to do, too.
Now, Spytek and Carroll won't be in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl, as they had their press conference on Monday and it started on Tuesday, but they will be watching film as it's released, and doing all of those sorts of things.
Watching the two of them build this roster is going to be so much fun to watch.
Las Vegas Raiders expected to hire former Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek as GM
The Raiders landed a good one.
