The Las Vegas Raiders’ ongoing instability at the top - the revolving door of head coaches and general managers - continues to ripple through the roster in ways that go beyond the obvious. Each new regime brings its own vision, its own scheme, and its own preferences, which often leaves young players, especially late-round picks or depth pieces, caught in the crossfire.
That’s where things get tricky. A player might be drafted for a specific system or role, only to find that system scrapped before they even get a fair shot.
The result? Development stalls, confidence wanes, and potential goes untapped.
And right now, that’s exactly what seems to be happening with second-year cornerback Decamerion Richardson.
When Pete Carroll arrived in Las Vegas, it was clear he was bringing his defensive blueprint with him - one that historically favors tall, fast corners with long arms. That profile has been a staple of Carroll-led defenses dating back to his Seattle days.
It’s why players like Kyu Blu Kelly and Richardson initially looked like potential fits. But while Kelly emerged as a key contributor on defense before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 14, Richardson has been left on the outside looking in.
The numbers tell the story. Richardson hasn’t logged a single defensive snap this season.
Not one. That’s a stark contrast from his rookie year, when he started seven games, played 559 defensive snaps, and added another 89 on special teams.
Granted, his early playing time came largely due to injuries in the secondary, but he held his own. He got real reps, real experience, and showed flashes that suggested he could grow into a reliable contributor.
Fast forward to Year 2, and Richardson’s role has shrunk dramatically. He’s doubled his special teams snaps - now sitting at 168 - but that’s been the extent of his on-field action.
Even after Kelly went down, Richardson remained glued to the bench. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a young player who showed promise and, at the very least, earned a chance to compete for snaps.
It’s not about saying Richardson is the next lockdown corner. He wasn’t that in 2024.
But he did enough to earn a longer look. For a Day 3 pick, showing flashes as a rookie is usually the green light for more opportunities in Year 2 - especially on a team that isn’t contending down the stretch.
This is the time to evaluate talent, to see who might be part of the future. And right now, the Raiders are missing a chance to do just that.
If Richardson gets on the field and struggles, fine. At least you know.
But if he holds up - or even thrives - then you’ve uncovered a piece you can build with moving forward. Either way, the Raiders need to find out what they have.
Because letting a young player sit idle, especially one still on a rookie deal, doesn’t help anyone. It wastes valuable development time and potentially stalls a career before it ever really gets going.
For a franchise trying to build something sustainable, these are the margins that matter. The late-round picks who develop into contributors, the depth pieces who grow into starters - those are the wins that help stabilize a roster. And right now, the Raiders are letting one of those opportunities slip away with Decamerion Richardson.