The Las Vegas Raiders have spent the better part of the last two decades stuck in the NFL’s basement, with only brief respites in 2016 and 2021 to remind fans of what success might feel like. But for a franchise that’s been defined more by dysfunction than dominance in recent memory, there’s a growing sense that something real is finally building in the desert.
And when even longtime skeptics start to acknowledge it? That’s when you know the shift might be more than just offseason optimism.
On a recent episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter-who’s had a historically rocky relationship with the Raiders dating back to the Al Davis era-offered up something that’s been rare from him when it comes to the Silver and Black: praise. And it all centered around the team’s reported hiring of Klint Kubiak as their next head coach.
Schefter addressed rumors that Kubiak might back out of the job, shutting them down quickly. Not only is Kubiak locked in, according to Schefter, but he’s remained fully focused on his current duties with the Seattle Seahawks as they prepare for their Super Bowl LX matchup against the New England Patriots. That level of professionalism, Schefter noted, is exactly what the Raiders need in a leader.
Then came the part that should perk up ears across Raider Nation.
“If you’re the Raiders,” Schefter said, “you’ve got some elements here, where there’s some real hope.”
Let’s break that down.
Las Vegas is sitting on the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. That gives them the chance to bring in Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana-a player widely projected to go first overall.
Pair him with dynamic offensive weapons like Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers, and suddenly this isn’t just another rebuild. This is a roster with legitimate firepower on the horizon.
Then there’s the financial flexibility. The Raiders are armed with $90 million in cap space heading into the offseason.
That kind of capital opens the door to aggressively upgrade the offensive line-an area that’s been a consistent Achilles heel in recent years. Schefter pointed to the abundance of free agent offensive linemen expected to hit the market and suggested that a few of them could be headed to Vegas with hefty contracts in hand.
And that’s where the comparison to the Chicago Bears comes in. Last offseason, the Bears made a major leap from division bottom-dwellers to the NFC’s No. 2 seed, thanks in large part to a revamped offensive line and smart roster construction. Schefter believes the Raiders could follow a similar blueprint under the leadership of general manager John Spytek and part-owner Tom Brady.
“I think the Raiders are going to have a similar approach this year to their offensive line,” Schefter said, referencing the Bears’ acquisitions of Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney, and Drew Dalman as examples of how quickly a unit can be transformed with the right moves.
So let’s recap: a potential franchise quarterback in Mendoza, elite young skill players, a war chest of cap space, and now a head coach in Klint Kubiak who’s earned praise for his work with Seattle’s offense. That’s not just a foundation-that’s a launchpad.
Schefter didn’t stop there. He emphasized just how important it was for Las Vegas to lock in Kubiak as the face of the franchise moving forward.
“The nucleus is going to be there. The foundation is going to be there,” he said.
“And that’s why it was so important, I think, for this team to go hire and get the deal done for Klint Kubiak. They’ll never have to worry about finding an offensive mind as long as he’s their head coach.
He’s going to be there every year. He’s going to be their guy.”
That’s a bold endorsement-and one that Raiders fans have been desperate to hear. Because for all the passion and loyalty that defines Raider Nation, what they want more than anything is to matter again. Not just in highlight reels or throwback documentaries, but in the standings.
Respectability might not be the ultimate goal, but it’s a necessary step. And with Kubiak at the helm, a potential franchise QB on the way, and a front office ready to spend, the Raiders are positioning themselves to take that step-and maybe more.
Schefter closed his comments with a line that should resonate deeply with fans who’ve stuck with the team through the lean years:
“They’re going to be back.”
It’s been a long time coming. But maybe, just maybe, the Silver and Black are finally ready to rise again.