HENDERSON, Nev. — Standing in entrance of a handful of reporters within the staff assembly room of the Intermountain Well being Efficiency Heart, John Spytek was ready he hopes turns into a uncommon incidence shifting ahead because the Las Vegas Raiders’ basic supervisor.
Following his first season with the group, he needed to deal with how the staff performed effectively beneath expectations, ending with a file of 3-14 and firing coach Pete Carroll, who was meant to instill a profitable tradition.
“I do not need anybody to assume that anybody deserves extra accountability than me, and that it is one thing I am very conscious of, I take into consideration on a regular basis, and am decided to get proper,” Spytek mentioned.
Even after a cataclysmic season, one of many worst in franchise historical past, a light-weight could be seen on the finish of the tunnel.
The Raiders have 10 projected draft picks within the 2026 NFL draft, together with the No. 1 general choice, and the second-most cap house within the league. Extra importantly, Spytek has a possibility, in contrast to final yr, to herald a coach that aligns along with his imaginative and prescient for the staff. Loads must go proper for the Raiders and endurance should be required. However the path for Spytek to construct the Raiders for “sustained success” has been laid.
It is a matter of capitalizing on the chance.
“I feel we now have an enormous mountain to climb, however we’re not attempting to do all of it in in the future,” Spytek mentioned.
A part of reaching sustained success can be discovering stability at head coach. That has been unusual for the Raiders, who’re trying to find their sixth coach since 2021.
“It is crucial,” vast receiver Tre Tucker mentioned. “You take a look at among the groups that go into the offseason, and so they’ve been within the offense for 2 to 3 years. Once they come again, [they’re] not studying a brand new offense until they’re new to the staff. For us, each offseason is studying a brand new offense. It is like you’re beginning throughout.
“I’ve performed three totally different roles in three methods. I will must play one other function in one other system.”
Spytek can be main the teaching search in shut collaboration with minority proprietor Tom Brady. Spytek has taken discover of how groups just like the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears — all of whom made the playoffs — have turned issues round in a single season with a brand new coach.
Nearly as good as a fast turnaround sounds, Spytek is just not placing that form of stress on candidates. He mentioned the group can be open-minded within the search and search for somebody who may help the staff construct for future success.
The perfect path ahead for the Raiders might be to land an offensive-minded coach. They have already got constructing blocks in place on that facet of the ball in rookie working again Ashton Jeanty and tight finish Brock Bowers.
Jeanty nonetheless managed to whole 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 whole touchdowns regardless of inconsistent assist from the offensive line and adjustments in playcallers. Bringing in somebody who can maximize the potential of each gamers needs to be important.
“I do know there’s been a whole lot of narratives on the market that he did not have the season that perhaps he deserved, otherwise you would count on from the sixth general decide. Effectively, that is advantageous, nevertheless it’s not simply Ashton,” Spytek mentioned. “There’s 10 different folks which are on the market with him, and it is our job to place a fantastic group of men round him to assist him understand his potential.”
Las Vegas has already interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach/cross sport coordinator Davis Webb.
The Raiders have additionally requested to interview Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
“Are there two extra vital hires in a company than a quarterback and a head coach? I feel we in all probability all would agree that these two males often steer the ship, and that is out in entrance of us proper now,” Spytek mentioned.
After all, the Raiders being the primary staff on the clock in April’s draft makes their scenario really feel much less murky. Spytek mentioned the league is suffering from groups that benefited from making the proper selection with the primary general decide (i.e., 2024 No. 1 decide Caleb Williams main the Bears to their first playoff win since 2010).
“That kind of decide can change a company. So, simply praying we make the proper decide,” Jeanty mentioned.
The Raiders are already linked to Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, and rightfully so. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith, 35, struggled, throwing a league-high 17 interceptions.
And along with his greatest supporter, Carroll, now not within the constructing, Las Vegas might eat the $18.5 million lifeless cap hit and transfer on from Smith.
“Geno is underneath contract for subsequent yr. We did that as a result of after we traded for him, we appreciated him,” Spytek mentioned. “I am not going to get too far into the long run proper now, I am day-to-day, however he is one of many guys that is underneath contract. …We’ll make these selections going ahead.”
Even when Smith stays on the roster, it might be clever for the Raiders to think about Mendoza at No. 1. At 22, Mendoza has the potential to be the group’s long-term reply on the place, and somebody who can develop with the brand new coach, Bowers and Jeanty.
Mendoza’s efficiency throughout the Faculty Soccer Playoffs ought to present optimism that he could be an efficient participant on the subsequent degree. In two playoff video games, he has thrown for 369 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions and a completion charge of 86%.
Regardless of who begins at quarterback for the Raiders in 2026, the staff should repair the offensive line to present that participant a possibility to succeed. Las Vegas was twenty second in cross block win charge (60.7%). Smith was sacked 55 occasions — tied for many within the league. The Raiders additionally ranked final in practically each speeding metric.
Las Vegas already has a number of items in place to work with up entrance. Beginning left deal with Kolton Miller signed a contract extension earlier than his season was lower quick on account of a excessive ankle sprain. The Raiders even have Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has been pretty strong, however the brand new teaching workers should resolve whether or not he stays at proper guard or slides to middle.
Rookies Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers flashed when given taking part in time. Nonetheless, count on the Raiders to do their due diligence on the offensive line within the offseason by focusing on assist at proper deal with and within the inside.
“Anyone that may assist bolster that offensive line and do the job required can be thought of,” Spytek mentioned. “Now we have a whole lot of cap house; we have got some elite draft picks, and perhaps including a veteran presence in there or two can be useful, however not essentially an absolute necessity.”
Spytek mentioned he has to do a greater job at protecting good gamers in Las Vegas as a substitute of letting them stroll away and be part of totally different groups. That exception might be made for defensive finish Maxx Crosby.
Crosby, a five-time Professional Bowl choice, has been a particularly loyal determine within the group. On the identical time, he’s set to play for his sixth coach since getting into the league in 2019 and solely has one playoff look to point out for it.
With that mentioned, it might make sense for the Raiders to at the least entertain commerce presents for his or her star participant. Crosby, 28, continues to play at a excessive degree. He totaled 10 sacks in 15 video games regardless of battling a knee harm for many of the season. If Las Vegas can acquire important draft capital by buying and selling Crosby to a contender, that transfer might be a win-win scenario for each events concerned.
Spytek’s first season as a basic did not ship promising outcomes on the sphere. In reality, Spytek mentioned he does not need to be ready the place he has to reply for a three-win season once more.
He won’t must if the Raiders play their playing cards proper in what could be seen as a franchise-altering offseason.
“We wish a meticulous construct that can set us up for years of success sooner or later, and we now have a fantastic alternative to do this with all the things that we now have in entrance of us proper now,” he mentioned.
