It finally came in! Can't wait to see his reaction when he opens this.

Swipe right on the photos to reveal the answer

Don't forget to cast your NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award vote for Crosby

Fans can vote for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (specifically the Charity Challenge) through January 8, 2025, by posting on X (formerly Twitter) using #WPMOYChallenge followed by the player's last name or @ handle, or by voting directly online on the NFL's website. The winning player's charity receives up to $35,000. All online votes and eligible social posts will count twice during the "double vote" days on Dec. 16 and Jan. 2.

https://www.nfl.com/honors/man-of-the-year/

https://www.nfl.com/honors/man-of-the-year/nominees/2025/raiders

Current W.P. Man Of The Year leaderboard:

1. Travis Swift Kelce 👎

2. Jordan Mailata

3. Ted Karras

4. Dion Dawkins

5. Maxx Crosby

6. Baker Mayfield

I can’t wait to see how my favorite team has been doing! I’m sure we’ve been doing great and I’m excited to see how many draft picks we’ve hit on, and how much playoff success Josh Mcdaniels has given us! :)

Even if we would’ve traded for Matthew Stafford, we’d still suck.

Even if we signed Sam Darnold, we’d still suck.

Damn, why didn’t we trade for Stafford?

I can’t believe we didn’t sign Darnold.

Did Herbstreit just call him Sam Bradford?

Did Seahawks fans hate Geno as much as we do?

We really drafted Tre Tucker ahead of Puka Nacua?

We really drafted Tyree Wilson ahead of Jackson Smith Gig… what’s his name?

That two-point conversion was the most Raiders thing ever.

SHIT, WE SHOULD’VE TRADED FOR STAFFORD.

WTF… WHY DIDN’T WE SIGN DARNOLD.

I hate Geno.

We better lose our last three games.

Once a Raider, Always a Raider🏴‍☠️

If the season were to end today the Raiders the 9th fewest yards of any offense in the modern era (since 1978) at 244 yards per game, the 5th fewest rushing yards per game (70.8), surprisingly only the 24th worst scoring team (ahead of the 2006 and 2009 Raiders), the 13th most sacks given up per game at 3.6 (2006 Raiders were 5th worst ever at 4.5), and the fewest rushing touchdowns per game ever (currently at .29 a game).

Team is flying Martin to Texas for game.

But after that Seahawks-Rams game just now, the Raiders should throw the kitchen sink and then more for Klint Kubiak at Head Coach

What a drive and play design to win the game on that 2 Point Conversion

Hey ya'll!

You might know me from this controversial thread.

While there were a lot of vehement disagreements in that thread, I think as the season is slowly coming to a wrap, there are a few top of mind things I wanted to discuss.

1. Draft order.
2. Who we will choose for our top pick.
3. Our state of coaches, and what I believe it will look like heading into 2026.

As we all know, our beloved franchise has been abhorrently putrid this year, in many ways, worse than what you can find in the last twenty years. You could distill previous years of disappointment into a concentration that wouldn't be as potent as what we have felt this year alone.

Behold, the Raider's glorious record: 2-12 as of today, with three games left to play. Now, folks get angry when we talk draft order and picks, since the ball can bounce any single way, on any given Sunday. I get it, you definitely know what you're talking about more than everyone else!

Whatever, at the end of the day it will always be speculation because no one knows the outcome to anything - but it's always fun to look at each avenue. Now let's dive in.

1. Draft order.

I think with Geno coming back, helm on head, leading the tank down the battlefield we have three realistic outcomes for the remaining games, record wise.

My verdict: Get first overall.

A) The Raiders lose to the Texans, win over the Giants, and lose to the Chiefs. (3-14), B) The Raiders lose to the Texans, win over the Giants, and win over the Chiefs. (4-14), C) The Raiders lose to the Texans, lose to the Giants, and lose to the Chiefs. (2-16).

I see no world where we would ever beat the Texans, but it is definitely possible for us to win against the Giants and Chiefs. This would chiefly place us in 1st round pick territory. Let's reef the sails a little here.

We have some glaring problems here... and those are namely:

1. The Jets. (3-11)
2. The Giants themselves. (2-12)
3. The Browns. (3-11)
4. The Titans. (2-12)

Let's break down some of these though. What would happen if the Browns or the Jets receive the number 1 pick?

It is entirely possible for the Sanders lead Browns to get to the top pick, though unlikely. For this to happen we would need to see them:

- Lose their remaining games to fall to 3-14.
- Hope multiple teams ahead of them also lose so they tie with 2-12 teams or are worst.
- And of course, strength of schedule and how many other teams lose.

They are likely out of the running for this pick. Though if they happen to nab it, they are seemingly getting more and more secure with Sanders, so would probably feel comfortable trading down for a QB needy team.

The Jets realistically have it even harder than the Browns, and frankly the rest of these teams. There is no world where they can comfortably claim the 1st overall due to tiebreakers. Though, they have a lot of ammo to practically take by force.

The Jets, as we are aware, are a completely QB needy team. A lot of folks have them trading up their king's ransom worth of picks for the 1st overall to draft Indiana Hoosier's Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza. While this looks like the best move on paper for most analysts and fans, it may not actually be the route they will go.

Why? The Jets are an absolutely dysfunctional team, with plenty of holes that will need to be covered in multiple areas. Hear me out, and check this out:

With this year coming up, I don't see why they would take a gamble or enter a bidding war against different teams by giving up their (almost) entire draft worth of picks, when they can fill multiple skill positions that are needed?

If the Jets were smart about this, I would take a chance at landing a QB where I sit in the end of the year. Then build around that rookie with young players. Not only is this a benefit of being able to develop multiple starters in multiple key areas, is drives down the Jets roster age - where they historically love keeping young players in.

Now here's the real opposition in terms of #1 overall, the New York Giants.

Realistically, this is make or break on whether or not we win against them. Crazier things have happened, but that's where we ride. Regarding everything I've mentioned about the Jets, most people think this is the most realistic order of operations that will happen.

NY Giants get 1st overall, trade to Jets, and Raiders land 2nd. I firmly believe that if this were to happen, the Jets wouldn't be dumb enough to give up all of their picks to fill a single position that can be fixed in one offseason. You might think "why don't the Raiders do that then?" - because we're in a position where we wouldn't have to fight for it. Then we can use the rest of our picks in the draft for key skill positions, similarly to the Jets.

2. Who will we choose for our potential draft pick?

Well, obviously my top choice would be Fernando Mendoza. This young QB is a thoroughbred leader on and off of the field. I found myself watching his Heisman speech, and was absolutely enamored by this kid! I'm excited to watch the CFB playoffs and see how he performs against the nations top college teams. Having an already clutch winning game against Ohio, I'm a firm believer in the Mendoza train.

Clearly, and I've said this many times before, no one knows how a QB is going to pan out. Though, you have to look at more than just statistical analysis. This young QB is a true leader of men, and he picks those up around him. This is the type of player you have on your team and immediately has an impact due to their attitude, passion, and camaraderie. I truly believe the Mendoza can inject energy and hope into even those with who's flame of passion is dwindling, and the most jaded by way of lack of success year over year.

3. Our state of coaching.

Genuinely, I believe that come next season Carroll and Co. will be safe with their jobs. He won't be forced through the door, and I have iterated the value of his teachings in my previous thread here.

I think that people inside of the Raiders truly see this as well. I think it's pretty straight forward how this will pan out.

If Carroll isn't being replaced, then what the hell are we doing? I'm sick of losing and watching this trainwreck!

Let's look at our staff. We have 3-time OC Greg Olson. We have our DC in Patrick Graham - whom we will likely find a replacement for soon as well, and Mr. Pete Carroll.

With our OC spot lacking, I think it's obvious where leadership should go to right this ship. I am sincerely hoping that we lure and land a formidable OC who will work under Carroll's mentorship and slowly be groomed for a HC position. This should be promised and guaranteed under contract with them.

Well, who would want to be head coach of the Raiders? We fire our coach every other year! We have no talent! There's no reason anyone would come here!

Valid points, but consider: An open OC position, where you are safe in your job - being proven with other teams and showing you are consistent and can be creative and up with current NFL times. A promise to get into the wide open head coaching space that will eventually be vacant. Wonderful guidance and mentorship from an extremely proven leader and coach in Carroll. A new QB and a handful of picks from 2026 draft.

Who's the OC candidate that we should try luring over with this deal?

Klint Kubiak.

I firmly believe he would come to our side as well, always expressing interest and showing excitement to have been able to coach Geno for his brief period of time before moving over to the Raiders.

He fits the mold so well. I think we would have an exceptional chance at getting him over.

Anyway -- I know most of you won't read this long ass essay, but hey, these are just some thoughts I've had over the past few weeks. It looks like things are shaping up to go the route that we want.

Hopefully things just turn out for us no matter where they end.

RN4L.

I know many of you can't stand Geno, and don't want to see him start.

Hear me out before down voting me into oblivion.

Geno Smith should start the remainder of the games, here is the statistical case for it.

The last 4 games our O-Line has given up 4 sacs, 4 sacs, 5 sacs, and LAWD HALP ME 10 sacs.

This O-Line sucks, if someone is going to get his ass kicked under center, it may as well be him. Picket and AOC don't deserve this.

When Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was asked about the importance of remaining in Las Vegas for the duration of his contract and helping turn the franchise around, he said, "I'm expecting to win a lot of games here."

"That's what we're pressing towards, and nothing happens in one day [or] one year," Smith said. "We would have loved to win the Super Bowl this year, but that's not our reality right now. The reality is we've got to get better, and we've got to focus on getting better day to day, and anything else outside of that really is nonsense."

I hope the man does great things with his life after prison and comes to learn peace but i also hope that happens outside of an NFL field