In the past two weeks, several struggling teams have traded key players, including the Las Vegas Raiders. While the Raiders are in a unique situation with wide receiver Davante Adams’ trade request, if they drop to 2-6 after Sunday, general manager Tom Telesco may need to consider moving players for draft picks.
Telesco, however, doesn’t have a track record of making bold trades. He could opt to maintain the status quo, leaving some uncertainty about what the future holds.
Meanwhile, head coach Antonio Pierce has dismissed the idea of tanking at this stage of the season, signaling that the team remains focused on winning rather than player development. With that mindset, Pierce is expected to push a flawed roster to stay competitive.
The Raiders’ leadership might want to observe how the team responds to Pierce’s coaching style while being well out of playoff contention before reassessing their short-term plans for the 2025 offseason.
Why a fire sale would be a positive sign for Antonio Pierce’s job security
If the Raiders decide to trade key players, it would signal a shift into rebuild mode, prioritizing the development of younger talent for the future.
In that scenario, head coach Antonio Pierce would likely resort to the “next man up” mentality, but realistically, without their top performers, the team would struggle to stay competitive against playoff-bound opponents as the schedule intensifies in the second half of the season.
Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders face a tough stretch, starting with a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals before their bye week, followed by a trip to play the Miami Dolphins, likely with Tua Tagovailoa back at quarterback. They also have challenging matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, and a Monday Night Football game at home against the Atlanta Falcons. Additionally, the Raiders will play their second divisional games against the Denver Broncos, who recently beat them by 16 points, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Given this daunting schedule over the next two months, the Raiders would struggle to win games with their current lineup. If the team reshuffles its starters on both offense and defense, Pierce shouldn’t bear full responsibility if the squad’s performance declines. In that case, he could be spared from blame, as the team may recognize the need for a complete roster overhaul.
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