The Las Vegas Raiders have started a new era (again).
Tom Brady is in the front office. Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll is roaming the sidelines in the Silver and Black.
The hope is that the Raiders will start to show signs of being a competent organization, but there seems to be a snag.
Earlier in training camp, Christian Wilkins was released, and the Raiders are voiding his contract. Of course, Wilkins has responded with a grievance in hopes of getting his guaranteed money.
It looks like Wilkins will get another chance somewhere in the NFL.
As if that wasn’t enough, Jakobi Meyers has requested a trade. Currently, Meyers is the best receiver on the roster, including Amari Cooper’s return to the organization.
The Raiders have indicated that they will now honor Meyers’ request.
Las Vegas acquired Kenny Pickett after Aiden O’Connell was injured in the final preseason game. Of course, O’Connell was never a viable veteran backup, no matter how badly the Raiders want him to be the answer. The organization’s inexplicable obsession with O’Connell ranks up with Jon Gruden’s obsession with Nathan Peterman.
The Raiders could have drafted Shadeur Sanders into a situation where he could have been the quarterback in waiting over the next three years. Instead, the organization passed on him several times on days two and three of the NFL Draft and took Cam Miller and Tommy Mellott. Mellot was converted to a wide receiver.
Both Miller and Mellot were cut, but if they clear waivers, they have a chance to be on the practice squad.
Las Vegas’ offseason has been no different from past offseasons: marked by unexplainable craziness, trade requests, and questionable picks.
The AFC West will probably be the best division in the NFL, and there’s a chance that the Raiders will win one or two division games at best.
Of course, Brady and Carroll shouldn’t be judged in the first 15 minutes they’re together, but their professional marriage isn’t off to a good start.
