Las Vegas Raiders’ players likely to take hit for poor form

Despite the silver and black’s terrible record in the 2022-23 NFL season (4-7 at the time of writing), it looks increasingly likely that it will be the players taking the hit when all is said and done for this 17-game campaign.

A playoff team last year, losing to shock Super Bowl contenders the Cincinnati Bengals 26-19 in the wildcard round, the Raiders were expected to venture into the post-season again this season. Any hope of that happening is already over, however, with the Las Vegas franchise well out of the playoff picture and one to avoid if you’re looking at the Super Bowl odds.

While the Raiders have enjoyed an uptick in form with wins on the road over the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the franchise has hugely underperformed this season.

Their defeat to the head coach-less Indianapolis Colts at the Allegiant Stadium in ‘Sin City’ in mid-November was perhaps one of their more damning losses this season. It was a must-win game for the Raiders against a 3-5-1 franchise, but they put in a performance that warranted the boos from the crowd that paid good money to witness a shambolic display and their team’s third-straight L.

The likeliest player to take the fall for the Raiders’ nightmare season is their nine-year quarter-back Derek Carr. The veteran hasn’t shied away from facing the media throughout this season, but it was more evident than ever after the defeat to the Colts that this was all starting to become a bit much even for him — as he stood at the podium in the Allegiant press room red-eyed and visibly upset, claiming to be ‘pissed off’ while taking swipes at his teammates for not caring as much as he does.

However, the harsh reality is that Carr has not performed to the standard expected of him this season — or in recent years as a matter of fact. While he loves the franchise to its core, perhaps more than any future player ever will, it’s clear that the Raiders aren’t going anywhere with Carr and it’s arguably best for both parties that their relationship is ended at the end of this season.

The Raiders did, of course, only give Carr an extension in April of this year, signing him on a three-year extension worth $121.5 million. But they will be able to get rid of him come the end of the season, potentially picking up a decent 2023 draft pick, and they are currently on course for the second overall pick anyway — which could see them target a rookie QB, like Hendon Hooker or Will Levis of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Another player likely to be scapegoated is Darren Waller. Again, a fan favourite of the Raider Nation, the 30-year-old tight end only signed a three-year deal worth $51m in September. However, he’s underperformed and struggled with injuries so far this season — not being seen on the field since Week 5 — and the Raiders reportedly turned down a trade offer of a second round pick from the Green Bay Packers for Waller before the deadline. They will almost certainly not say no to such a trade in the offseason.

One player on the roster that Raiders fans will be hoping isn’t given the chop, however, is Josh Jacobs. The running back is set to leave at the end of his contract upon the conclusion of this season, but the 24-year-old has been the shining light for the silver and black this season and has done more than enough to keep his place in the Allegiant Stadium locker room.

Who comes and who goes will ultimately be down to McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, but expect big changes at the Raiders organisation this offseason.