The roster strategies of the Las Vegas Raiders continue to raise concerns among observers and analysts who see some troubling trends on Raiders Way.
General Manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels have implemented a puzzling pattern of signing star players to contract extensions only to later trade them for questionable returns — if they get any at all.
One example that has sparked speculation is the situation with Hunter Renfrow. Reports are indicating that the team could release Renfrow, who the Raiders will pay a $14 million salary to this season. This after the Raiders signed Renfrow to a two-year extension in June 2022.
Disturbing trend for Las Vegas Raiders roster started in 2022
This trend is not an isolated incident. Prominent Raiders players like Derek Carr and Darren Waller have also been involved in situations where they were extended only to be shown the door after McDaniels took the reins in Las Vegas. Those two players received contracts and were released (Carr) and traded (Waller) after a lackluster 2022 season.
In the case of Carr, his extension from early in 2022 included a no-trade clause which, after the Raiders decided to move on from the veteran quarterback with three games remaining last season, made it impossible to trade him and receive any compensation in return.
With Waller, who missed nine games last season with a hamstring injury, the Raiders reportedly had a “significant” trade offer from the Green Back Packers early in the 2022 season. The Raiders would have received a second-round draft pick, according to the report. Instead, Waller stayed with the Raiders and finished with his worst season as a starter. The Raiders traded him in March to the New York Giants for a third-round pick in 2024.
These actions raise questions about the decision-making within the Raiders front office. At best it shows a lack of foresight by the New England tandem hired by owner Mark Davis to run the football operation. Successful NFL teams achieve their goals by combining talent acquisition, player development and smart contract management. However, the Raiders seem to be playing a high stakes game of poker without a grasp of when to hold on or let go.
At worst this approach creates an environment of uncertainty and mistrust. Players who have committed to the Raiders, enticed by promises of stability and lucrative contracts, suddenly find themselves in a situation where their future is uncertain. This not only affects team morale, it can also have the potential to discourage future signings.
The Hunter Renfrow misstep
It’s important to consider the financial implications as well. NFL contracts often include guaranteed money, which means that releasing or trading players can have salary cap consequences. Renfrow is the poster boy of this as the Raiders are on the hook to pay him $14 million this season despite barely playing him. Renfrow has played in five games this season and has just eight receptions for 73 yards. Before his injury-plagued season in 2022, Renfrow had never compiled less than 600 yards receiving in a season.
When signed to a two-year $32 million extension in June 2022, McDaniels praised the wideout and talked about his importance to the Raiders, saying, “Hunter is one of the true leaders on this team and he exemplifies the values of the organization in how he comes to work every day. He is a tremendous teammate on and off the field and the entire Raider Nation is excited to see what the future holds for Hunter.”
Why the Raiders have relegated Renfrow to the bench is perplexing if you consider they wanted to move him. Why not highlight him to drive up his value and find a buyer?
Mismanaged contracts like the one given to Renfrow do not harm the team in the short term, but it can burden it with “dead money ” against the salary cap impacting its ability to sign new talent in future seasons. If Renfrow is cut after the trade deadline, the Raiders will take a $12.6 million dead money cap hit for the year, according to Over The Cap.
It’s strictly business — even in the NFL
To be fair it’s important to remember that the NFL is ultimately a business where tough decisions are part of the game. That means players come and go all the time.
However, successful franchises are able to navigate these complexities by managing their finances and implementing long-term strategies. It seems that the current approach of the Raiders lacks both of these elements, raising doubts about whether Ziegler and McDaniels are capable of steering the team in the right direction.
For a team with such a history and dedicated fan base, these missteps go beyond hiccups; they serve as alarming indicators of deeper issues within the front office. Unless the Raiders change their course and adopt a cohesive approach to managing players they not only jeopardize their current season but also put their future success at risk.
At present it appears that the Raiders are squandering their resources by making high-risk gambles without a plan in place.
As any experienced Las Vegas gambler would caution you, this is a surefire way to suffer losses.