After a season that can only be described as a disappointment from start to finish, the Las Vegas Raiders somehow find themselves in a strange and unexpected place: hopeful.
Yes, hopeful - even after finishing near the bottom of just about every power ranking out there, including a 31st-place spot in the final rankings. That’s a hard pill to swallow for any franchise, but it’s not without reason.
The Raiders were a mess on the field, and the dysfunction off it didn’t help either. Coaching instability, poor quarterback play, and a roster full of holes made for a forgettable campaign.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Despite the chaos, the Raiders managed to pull off something that felt borderline impossible - they landed one of the most respected offensive minds available to lead their rebuild. The hiring of Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Kubiak as their new head coach gives this team a legitimate direction.
That’s not just a bandaid hire. That’s a move with purpose.
Kubiak helped guide the Seahawks to a Super Bowl by doing what great coaches do: simplifying the game for his players and maximizing their strengths. He got the most out of a shaky quarterback situation with Sam Darnold and reestablished a physical, effective ground game - the kind of identity the Raiders have lacked for years.
Now, the challenge is replicating that formula in Las Vegas.
The first domino is likely to fall in the draft, where the Raiders are expected to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick. There’s no sugarcoating it - turning around a franchise with a rookie quarterback is one of the toughest tasks in football.
It’s been done (just ask Washington and Jayden Daniels), but it’s rare. Mendoza has the tools, but he’ll need time, structure, and support.
That’s where Kubiak’s experience could be invaluable. He’s shown he can build a system that protects a quarterback and leans on a strong run game.
The question is whether he’ll roll with Mendoza from Day 1 or bring in a veteran bridge to ease the transition. There are plenty of options on the market - the kind of journeymen QBs who can hold the fort while the rookie gets up to speed.
That’s how the Raiders ended up with Geno Smith, after all.
But quarterback isn’t the only concern. The Raiders' offensive line needs a full rebuild.
The receiving corps? In desperate need of a shakeup.
And on the other side of the ball, there’s the looming Maxx Crosby situation. One of the few bright spots on the roster, Crosby has made it clear he’s done - shut down for medical reasons and unwilling to return.
That’s a massive loss for a defense that already lacked consistency.
The good news? The Raiders have cap space.
A lot of it. That gives them flexibility to address several of these issues in free agency.
But it’s going to take smart, targeted moves - not just throwing money at the biggest names on the market. They need foundational pieces, not flash.
So yes, there’s optimism. Somehow.
But it’s fragile. The kind of optimism that can either blossom into a new era or vanish by midseason.
Kubiak’s tenure will be defined by the decisions he makes in the next few months - starting with quarterback, but extending to every corner of the roster.
The Raiders have a long way to go. But for the first time in a while, they might actually be headed in the right direction.