The Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a strange spot heading into the final stretch of the season. With playoff hopes long gone and draft position becoming a bigger storyline than wins, the conversation around the Silver and Black is less about finishing strong and more about what a win could cost them. And now, with Kenny Pickett potentially stepping in at quarterback, things just got a little more complicated.
Let’s start with the quarterback situation. Geno Smith’s shoulder injury appears to be serious enough to keep him sidelined, and frankly, it’s hard to blame the coaching staff if they decide to shut him down.
Smith has taken a beating this season-he’s been sacked frequently and played through pain more weeks than not. There’s no upside in risking further injury, especially with nothing tangible left to play for.
If this is the end of Smith’s run for the year, it opens the door for Pickett to take over.
Pickett, just 27 and a former first-round pick, hasn’t had much of a chance to show what he can do in silver and black. He’s appeared in five games this season, with one start-a rough outing against the Dallas Cowboys.
But he’s not a complete unknown. He’s got talent, experience, and even a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as a backup.
And wouldn’t you know it-the Eagles are next up on the Raiders’ schedule.
There’s a little poetic symmetry in Pickett potentially facing the team that once moved on from him. While no one’s expecting a revenge game narrative to carry the day, it’s an interesting wrinkle.
Especially considering that this isn’t the same Eagles team that steamrolled its way through the NFC just a couple of years ago. They’ve looked vulnerable lately, and the Raiders could be catching them at the right time.
But here’s the twist: winning might not be in the Raiders’ best interest right now.
That’s the uncomfortable truth for many fans. The offense hasn’t scored more than 17 points since Week 9, and the team has been trending downward in the standings.
For a franchise in search of a long-term answer at quarterback, every loss brings them closer to a premium draft pick. A win-especially one sparked by a late-season surge from Pickett-could push them out of the top three in the draft order, complicating their chances of landing a franchise-changing player.
Still, it’s not hard to imagine Pickett giving this team a bit of a jolt. Left tackle Kolton Miller returned to practice this week, which could help stabilize an offensive line that’s struggled to protect whoever’s under center.
If Pickett gets time in the pocket and finds a rhythm, this offense might start to show signs of life. And that’s where things get tricky.
Because while fans may be quietly rooting for losses, the players and coaches aren’t wired that way.
So now the Raiders are walking a tightrope. They’ve got a quarterback who might be motivated to prove something, a healthier offensive line, and a beatable opponent in front of them. But they’ve also got a future that could hinge on where they land in the draft.
It’s a classic case of short-term spark versus long-term gain. And as strange as it sounds, a win this weekend might do more harm than good-at least when it comes to the big picture.