Silver And Black Pride
It’s the bye week and if you’re anything like me, you could use a break from getting disappointed by the Las Vegas Raiders this season. I know I’m looking forward to a stress-free and relaxing Sunday, but first, we have this week’s mailbag to get to, focusing on the rest of the season, free agency and the 2026 NFL draft.
Q: Of the rookies that haven’t gotten a real chance yet, which one do you think will end up with the biggest impact by the end of the season? My bet is Darien Porter.
A: I’m with you on Porter. I’ve been a fan of his game for a while and think he’ll get a bigger opportunity in the second half of the season, considering Kyu Blu Kelly’s struggles. It wouldn’t surprise me if the rookie gets his first start next week against the Jaguars and becomes a mainstay in the starting lineup. He’s done everything the coaching staff has asked him to do with his limited opportunities so far.
The other rookie I’ll throw out there is Jack Bech. At this point, I’d be more surprised if Jakobi Meyers is still on the team after the trade deadline than if he gets dealt. So, I think Bech will get more snaps moving forward, and he’s been solid on the few that he’s gotten so far.
Bech was open for a touchdown against the Colts when Geno Smith’s pass got tipped at the line of scrimmage and then picked, and the TCU product has been doing a decent job of getting separation, even if he isn’t getting the ball.
Q: Is the best course of action at this point, in what can only be described as a dismal season, to approach the remaining games like they were preseason affairs? By that I mean see let’s see what the rookies have, run the ball regardless of the score, try various plays that might not be called if one were considering only the score, etc. Why not experiment? Oddly, I would not be surprised if the Raiders actually wound up winning some games they would otherwise lose by taking such an approach.
A: Someone else asked how the Raiders can “tank” without being obvious about it, and I think this is the best way to do that. Of course, the players and coaches are still going to try to win the game to prove themselves, but giving the young guys bigger opportunities and essentially treating the games like practice for them is how, in my opinion, Las Vegas should operate over the next few months.
The team has been trying to win with the veterans but that, obviously, isn’t working. Might as well start thinking about the future and giving the young bucks more live reps to help develop them. And I agree that might lead to the Raiders winning a few games that no one expects them to. At this point in the season, the focus should be less on the...
