Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders

As the Las Vegas Raiders cling to a playoff spot in the AFC, a growing chorus of fans, analysts, and former NFL executives have made their stance clear: they’re unimpressed with the recent moves by the team’s front office. Led by general manager Tom Telesco, the Raiders’ executive team has faced criticism for a series of decisions that many argue have hindered the team’s ability to build a sustainable contender—from overpaying for underperforming veterans to mismanaging draft capital and failing to address longstanding roster gaps. While the Raiders have shown flashes of promise this season, the underlying frustration stems from a pattern of short-sighted moves that prioritize quick fixes over long-term stability. Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders breaks down the most contentious decisions, the backlash they’ve sparked, and why many believe the team’s current success masks deeper issues created by its leadership.

Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the 2023 free-agent signing of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, a deal that has drawn widespread criticism for its excessive cost and underwhelming production. Telesco’s team signed Meyers to a three-year, $33 million contract—making him one of the 20 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL—with the expectation that he would complement Davante Adams and strengthen the Raiders’ passing attack. Instead, Meyers has struggled to make an impact: through 14 games, he’s recorded just 52 catches for 580 yards and 2 touchdowns, well below the production of other receivers in his salary bracket (like the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, who has 65 catches for 830 yards and 6 touchdowns on a similar contract). “This was a textbook example of overpaying for a ‘safe’ option instead of targeting a player who could move the needle,” said former NFL general manager Scott Pioli. “Meyers is a solid slot receiver, but he’s not a game-changer—and paying him like one has tied up cap space that could have been used to fix the offensive line or secondary. It’s a move that shows a lack of urgency to address the team’s real needs.” The frustration has been amplified by Meyers’ inconsistent performance in big games: he’s failed to record more than 50 receiving yards in five of the Raiders’ six losses this season.

Another decision drawing criticism is the Raiders’ handling of the 2024 NFL draft, where executives passed on addressing the offensive line—easily the team’s biggest weakness—to select defensive end Tyree Wilson with the No. 7 overall pick. While Wilson has shown potential (3 sacks, 8 quarterback hits this season), he’s been a rotational player rather than an immediate starter, leaving the Raiders to rely on a patchwork offensive line that has allowed 28 sacks (12th-most in the NFL) and hindered both Aidan O’Connell and the run game. Many analysts argued that the Raiders should have selected offensive tackle Peter Skoronski (who went to the Bears at No. 11) or guard Paris Johnson Jr. (selected by the Cardinals at No. 6)—both of whom have become full-time starters for their teams and earned positive PFF grades. “The draft is about prioritizing needs, and the Raiders failed to do that,” said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. “They had a top-10 pick and used it on a player who wouldn’t start right away, while their offensive line was falling apart. It’s a decision that has cost them wins this season—O’Connell has been under pressure on 34% of his dropbacks, and that’s directly because the front office didn’t address the line in the draft.” The criticism has only grown as Skoronski and Johnson have emerged as foundational pieces for their respective teams, while the Raiders’ offensive line remains a liability.

A critical part of Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders is the team’s mismanagement of the salary cap, which has limited their ability to make impactful midseason moves and left them with little flexibility for the 2025 offseason—much to the frustration of the Las Vegas Raiders’ fanbase. According to salary cap expert Joel Corry, the Raiders currently have just \(12 million in available cap space for next season (19th in the NFL), largely due to ill-advised contracts given to players like Meyers, defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (three years, \)21 million), and kicker Daniel Carlson (four years, $18.4 million). Nichols has been solid but not exceptional (5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss), while Carlson’s contract makes him the second-highest-paid kicker in the league—an unusual priority for a team with other pressing needs. “The Raiders’ cap situation is a mess because their executives have prioritized the wrong positions,” Corry said. “They’ve spent big on role players while leaving critical positions like offensive tackle and safety underfunded. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this means they’ll likely have to cut key veterans next offseason or forgo signing impactful free agents—all because of poor cap planning.” The lack of flexibility was evident at the 2024 trade deadline, where the Raiders could only afford to acquire low-cost rentals like defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (who is set to be a free agent) instead of long-term solutions.

Another point of contention is the Raiders’ failure to extend key young players, which has raised concerns about retaining talent long-term and has left fans questioning the executives’ commitment to building a contender for the Las Vegas Raiders. Players like defensive tackle Byron Young (a third-round pick in 2024 who has 4 sacks and 12 tackles for loss) and safety Tre’von Moehrig (who has 4 interceptions this season) are entering the final years of their rookie contracts, yet the front office has not initiated extension talks—risking their departure in free agency. Meanwhile, the Raiders have focused on extending veterans like Adams (who signed a five-year, \(141 million extension in 2022) and Crosby (four years, \)98 million in 2023)—players who are already in their primes and unlikely to see significant production gains. “Extending young, ascending players is how you build a contender long-term,” said Pioli. “The Raiders’ executives are doubling down on veterans while ignoring the players who could be the face of the franchise in three or four years. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this is a risky strategy—if Young or Moehrig leave, they’ll have to spend even more to replace them, further straining their cap situation.” The lack of action on extensions has also raised questions about the front office’s evaluation of talent, as many analysts view Young and Moehrig as core pieces for the future.

Wrapping up Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders is the growing calls for accountability—with fans and media alike questioning whether Telesco and his team are the right leaders to guide the Las Vegas Raiders to sustained success. While the Raiders may make the playoffs this season, many argue that their current success is due to the talent of players like Adams and Crosby, not the executives’ decision-making. Social media has been flooded with criticism, with fans using hashtags like #FireTelesco to voice their frustration, and local sports radio shows in Las Vegas have dedicated entire segments to dissecting the front office’s failures. “The Raiders have a talented roster, but their executives are holding them back,” said Kiper. “They’ve made too many questionable decisions—overpaying veterans, mismanaging the draft, neglecting the cap—and it’s only a matter of time before those decisions catch up to them. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the question isn’t whether they’ll make the playoffs this year—it’s whether their front office can fix these issues before the team regresses.” While team ownership has not commented on the criticism, the pressure is mounting for the executives to deliver results—either by making smart moves in the 2025 offseason or risk being replaced. Unimpressed with Moves by Executives of the Las Vegas Raiders ultimately shows that while the Raiders may be winning now, the trust in their leadership has eroded—and restoring that trust will require more than a single playoff appearance.