Tag: Raiders news

Broncos lose a top executive to Raiders

The Broncos have lost executive Mark Thewes to the Raiders. He is the eighth staff member to leave Denver, including two who were fired.

The Las Vegas Raiders have poached a top executive from the Denver Broncos.

The Raiders hired former Broncos executive Mark Thewes as their new SVP of football operations and strategy on Tuesday. The news was first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and later confirmed by the team.

Thewes most recently served as Denver’s vice president of football operations and compliance. Before that, he served as director of team administration. Thewes originally joined the team when Josh McDaniels was hired as a head coach in 2009. He previously worked for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Broncos.

Thewes lasted in Denver well beyond the McDaniels era, a testament of the value he provided at the club.

The new Las Vegas general manager, John Spytek, worked with Thewes in Denver from 2013-2015. They will now be reunited in the Raiders’ front office.

Thewes is the eighth staff member to leave the Broncos this offseason, joining Ben Kotwica (fired), Greg Manusky (fired), Darren Mougey, Chris Banjo, Declan Doyle, John Morton and David Shaw.

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High-profile coach returns to NFL with Broncos’ division rival

The Broncos will face a Chip Kelly-coached offense when they play against the Raiders in 2025.

Chip Kelly is returning to the NFL.

The offensive guru has joined the Las Vegas Raiders as their new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports (via Raiders Wire). Kelly is set to earn an average of $6 million per year in Las Vegas, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer, making him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.

Kelly, 61, has an extensive background in college football. He left Oregon to become the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach in 2013. Kelly was fired after going 26-21, then he landed with the San Francisco 49ers. After going 2-14 in San Francisco, Kelly was fired again and returned to the NCAA level.

Kelly served as UCLA’s head coach from 2018-2023, going 35-34. He then served as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024, helping the Buckeyes win a College Football Playoff National Championship.

The Denver Broncos faced the Eagles once when Kelly was their head coach, with the Broncos winning that game 52-20 in 2013. He will now coach a Raiders offense that is set to face Denver twice each season.

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Russell Wilson could join a Broncos’ division rival in 2025

After the Raiders hired Pete Carroll, pending free agent QB Russell Wilson is a name to watch for Las Vegas this offseason.

Well, this would be quite a story.

Immediately after the Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll as their head coach last week, fans and pundits quickly pointed out quarterback Russell Wilson could reunite with his old coach in Las Vegas.

Carroll and Wilson, of course, won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks (and they lost one, too). The coach and QB seemed to have a bit of a falling out toward the end of Wilson’s tenure in Seattle, but they are apparently on good terms now.

The Raiders were among the teams Wilson wanted to join in 2024, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe has also fueled specuatlion:

Wilson spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being cut by the Denver Broncos. He is now scheduled to become a free agent in March.

Wilson and Broncos coach Sean Payton seemingly exchanged subtle jabs this spring, and the 36-year-old quarterback now appears to be a candidate to return to the AFC West in 2025. Wilson playing against Payton and the Broncos twice next season would be must-watch TV.

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The AFC West is now stacked with Super Bowl-winning coaches

AFC West coaches Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh have reached nine combined Super Bowls.

The Las Vegas Raiders made a splash on Friday by hiring Pete Carroll as their new head coach.

Carroll, 73, now joins a stacked group of head coaches in AFC West. Carroll, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, will now compete against three-time Super Bowl champion Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs) and one-time Super Bowl champion Sean Payton (Denver Broncos).

Jim Harbaugh also just joined the division last year and while he does not yet have a ring, Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance and he has a 55-25-1 all-time record in the NFL.

The four AFC West coaches have reached 20 conference title games with nine combined Super Bowl appearances, arguably making it the most impressive division of coaches in the NFL.

The Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes), Chargers (Justin Herbert) and Broncos (Bo Nix) all have their answers at quarterback. Now Carroll will aim to help the Raiders find their long-term QB in 2025.

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Raiders close to stealing front office member from the Chargers

The Raiders are bringing in the Chargers’ assistant general manager for a second, in-person interview.

Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander will fly to Las Vegas on Monday for a second, in-person interview for the Raiders’ general manager position, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Before coming to Los Angeles, Alexander spent five years as the Jets’ director of player personnel. He played a key role in New York drafting Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, the 2022 Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year.

Before joining New York, Alexander spent 20 seasons with the Ravens, most of which was with general manager Joe Hortiz. He worked in various roles, from an area scout to serving as Baltimore’s Assistant Director of Pro Personnel in his final nine seasons.

Alexander attended the NFL’s Front Office & General Manager Accelerator Program in Dallas last month.

If Alexander is hired, it would be the second consecutive year in which the Raiders hired a general manager from the Chargers’ front office. Last year, they hired Tom Telesco, who was fired after one season in Las Vegas. Telesco was with the Bolts for 11 seasons.

Raiders request to interview Chargers’ Chad Alexander for general manager

Chad Alexander is viewed as a rising star.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander was requested to interview for the Raiders’ vacant general manager job.

This marks Alexander’s first interview for a GM position.

Before coming to Los Angeles, Alexander spent five years as the Jets’ director of player personnel. He played a key role in New York drafting Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, the 2022 Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year.

Before joining New York, Alexander spent 20 seasons with the Ravens, most of which was with general manager Joe Hortiz. He worked in various roles, from an area scout to serving as Baltimore’s Assistant Director of Pro Personnel in his final nine seasons.

Alexander attended the NFL’s Front Office & General Manager Accelerator Program in Dallas last month.

Ranking Raiders 2025 free agents by re-sign priority

Before the offseason becomes about who the Raiders can add to the roster, it must be about who they keep. With a new coaching staff coming in, they won’t feel all that tied to the players on the roster right now. But they have to know which players …

Before the offseason becomes about who the Raiders can add to the roster, it must be about who they keep. With a new coaching staff coming in, they won’t feel all that tied to the players on the roster right now. But they have to know which players make or break this team as it’s currently comprised.

In that spirit, I ranked the Raiders free agents by how valuable they are to re-sign.

Priority: Very High

Hobbs is an outstanding slot corner. Both in coverage and as a tackler. Such players don’t grow on trees. You hold onto players like him when you get the chance.

Priority: Very High

Spillane is a tackling machine and one of the better middle linebackers out there. He also loves his Raiders teammates and would probably welcome a return. They should step up and hang onto him.

Priority: Somewhat High

They were lucky to get him back last year after he tested the market. They shouldn’t mess around this time. He proved he is an every-down caliber interior defender and earned a multi-year deal and they’d be smart to give it to him.

Priority: Somewhat High

Many teams may have forgotten the holy terror he was over the stretch run of the 2023 season because he was lost to injury prior to this past season. That should be enough for Koonce to want to take a one-year deal to have a shot at hitting the market on a high note next year.

Priority: Somewhat High

The former top college safety and second round pick is coming off his best season. He has been a full time starter all four seasons and is the top safety on the Raiders roster. With all three of their safeties headed for free agency, they should probably try and keep the best of them or risk having to rebuild the group this offseason.

Priority: Moderate

The former first round pick had a breakout season for the Raiders. Even though I named him their Comeback Player of the Year. His five sacks equaled his career total coming in. The Raiders got a find with him and it would be a shame to just let that find get away.

Priority: Moderate

The former college safety has become a decent starting outside for the Raiders. Could be a bit risky to let him go because there’s no guarantee you’ll find better and/or cheaper replacement.

Priority: Moderate

Epps was half of a pretty solid safety tandem along with Moehrig last season. He was lost in week three and the coaching staff liked Isaiah Pola-Mao enough I could see them letting Epps walk. Will the new staff feel similarly?

Priority: Low

The ten-year veteran showed his value as a triple threat — running back, receiver, return specialist — late in the season. He would likely be cheap to re-sign and is clearly still got it.

Priority: Low

An outstanding special teams player. You get a mixed bag on defense from Pola-Mao. He’s a restricted free agent, which means it will be easy to retain him with a tender.

Priority: Low

A 17-game starter and had his moments. But overall, it may be time for the Raiders to move on from the 36-year-old to their young core of defensive tackles.

CB Darnay Holmes (1 start)
RB Alexander Mattison
WR Terrace Marshall
TE Harrison Bryant
T Andrus Peat
G Cody Whitehair

Raiders want to interview Broncos DC Vance Joseph for HC job

The Raiders want to interview Broncos DC Vance Joseph for their HC opening.

The Las Vegas Raiders have requested a head coach interview with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Joseph is scheduled to interview with the New York Jets on Wednesday, and he’s expected to interview with the Raiders on Thursday or Friday, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson.

The Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars are also said to be interested in Joseph, but neither have requested an interview so far.

If the Broncos lose Joseph to a head coach job this offseason, Denver will receive a pair of third-round compensatory draft picks from the NFL after helping a minority coach build his resume and earn a promotion.

The Broncos also have a notable in-house replacement candidate in defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard, who has received DC interest from NFL clubs in the past.

Denver’s defense ranked third in points allowed per game (18.3) and first in sacks (63) during the 2024 season.

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Raiders 2024 year-end awards: Top newcomer, best position group, most disappointing addition, more

The 2024 NFL season is behind us. So, let’s take a look back and hand out some awards. Some of which will be good ones. Some…not so much.

The 2024 NFL season is behind us. So, let’s take a look back and hand out some awards. Some of which will be good ones. Some…not so much.

This was an easy choice. Bowers is not just the Raiders top rookie, he is arguably the top rookie in the NFL. He is a long shot for Offensive Rookie of theYear due to the existence of Jayden Daniels, but there is a case to be made that he should win it due to the historic numbers he put up this seasons including rookie TE receiving yards record (1194), rookie receptions record (112), and Raiders franchise single-season receptions record.

He was added for nothing and without a lot of fanfare. The round seven rookie was waived by the Colts in their final roster cuts and claimed by the Raiders. He started seven games for the Raiders down the stretch and looks like he could be a solid foundational piece on this defensive line considering he has three years left on his rookie deal.

Butler set out this season to show he could be an every-down player and he did that. He stepped up with the loss of Christian Wilkins and was the Raiders’ best interior defender, finishing with five sacks and career-bests in tacckles (65), tackles for loss (8) and QB hits (10).

Jakorian Bennett was the midseason winner of this award, but he went down with injury and missed the latter half of the season. He too is probably worthy, but Butler held up all season long and is thus deserving of the award in the end.

Being that Chaisson had never had NFL success before this season, one could argue he’s not “coming back” from anything. But being that there aren’t any other candidates for this award, we’re going to stretch that a bit. He was a former first round pick, so at one time he was highly regarded. He just never lived up to it with the Jaguars. The former LSU star edge rusher had as many sacks this season (five) as he did his first four seasons combined.

Gardner Minshew is a close runner-up here. But after seeing the improved numbers across the board under Luke Getsy’s replacement Scott Turner, it was clear Getsy was a big part of the problem. Not a big surprise, honestly. He was coming off a terrible season with the Bears and wasn’t the Raiders first choice for the job. And somehow he was still a great disappointment.

They lost their top player Christian Wilkins five games into the season. And yet somehow still managed to step up and carry the load. The combo of Adam Butler, John Jenkins, and Jonah Laulu gave the Raiders some solid work both in run defense and pass rush. With some good late season flashes from Zach Carter as well. Should they bring back Butler, teaming him up with Wilkins and Laulu could give the Raiders a very formidable front.

You could also go with “Only good game” as the title of this award. That win in Baltimore looks more and more like a fluke the farther down the line we get from it. Their other wins were against two of the worst teams in the NFL (Jaguars and Browns), one who had Deshaun Watson starting and the other two with backup QBs (Jaguars and Saints).

Somewhat interesting their worst game came the week after their best one. Though there were many contenders for the worst game. But looking back, the one that stands out is the one that started the collapse.

It was their home opening loss to the Panthers in which they never led and Andy Dalton led offense to put up 33 points in the first 47 minutes. After the game, Antonio Pierce had his infamous reactionary press conference in which he called out unnamed players for making “business decisions.”

Shortly thereafter, Davante Adams came down with a sudden and mysterious ankle injury. Then demanded a trade and eventually was sent to the Jets. That’s also when Michael Mayer left the team and didn’t return for more than a month. The team was in shambles the rest of the way.

They would “win” the next game against the Browns, but anyone who watched it saw Deshaun Watson hand that game to the Raiders on a silver platter. Then they went on a ten-game losing streak.

Some of the lowlights from that streak include the Rams game where the Raiders turned the ball over four times, the first Chiefs game where the running backs averaged less than a yard per carry, the Steelers game where Pittsburgh rattled off 26 unanswered, the Broncos who had a 100-yard pick six and put up 34 unanswered, and the Bengals game when the Raiders gave up scores on the first five drives — four of which went for touchdowns — and allowed a season-high 41 points.

And that was just the first five games of their ten-game losing streak. They failed to reach even 20 points in any of the five games after the bye week while turning the ball over nine times.

He finished third in the league in gross punt average (50.8) and garnered a few All Pro votes.

Yes, the best rookie has also been their best offensive player and their lone First Team All Pro. Jakobi Meyers had his best season, but he wasn’t nearly on the level of Bowers who the Raiders offense ran through.

He won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s come-from-behind win in Baltimore in Week two. He battled ankle injury for several weeks, then injured the same ankle later in the season, sending Crosby to injured reserve. He was still named to the Pro Bowl and no other Raiders defender is approaching his talents.

Will Maxx Crosby play this week? Injury updates for Raiders DE

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby is dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates.

The Las Vegas Raiders will be without their best player on Monday night when they face the Atlanta Falcons. Star defensive lineman Maxx Crosby is out.

Maxx Crosby injury update

Crosby has officially been ruled OUT for the game.

Raiders injury report

How long will Maxx Crosby be out?

Maxx Crosby announced he will have surgery on his injured ankle and miss the remainder of the season.

The Raiders have four games left in the season.

Raiders defensive end depth chart

Losing Crosby is a huge blow. He is a force. He has 7.5 sacks in 12 games this season and 17 tackles for loss. Tyree Wilson is listed behind Crosby on the team’s depth chart.

Other defensive ends on the roster who will try and pick up the slack include K’Lavon Chaisson, Charles Snowden, and Janarius Robinson.