The Raiders host the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, and regardless of the game’s outcome, the Raiders are going to walk away from week 14 with a “win.”
A defeat of the Broncos, which seems unlikely at this point, is always a cause for celebration, but a loss will keep the Raiders in position for a premium draft pick.
But not everyone is interested in celebrating draft position, and flagship radio host ‘JT the Brick’ has been adamant for years that he’s not going to root for a higher draft pick in December.
“You want to win the games in your rivalry; you want to do it. We’re going to get a high draft pick… can we get that topic out of the way, too? Because I don’t do draft talk in December and January. We’re going to get a really good draft pick, right?” JT said on his Raider Nation Radio show on Wednesday.
“So the only thing that would suck is if we got a really good draft pick and he sucked. That’s what’s been not happening exactly, but we can’t have another Tyree Wilson at 7, JaMarcus Russell at 1, Alex Leatherwood at 17. So it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter where our pick is. The first pick is you think is the best pick.”
“You might be right if Joe Burrow is coming out or Jayden Daniels is coming out. They’re not coming out. Mendoza, some of the others who are coming out, yeah, they’re pretty good. We’re all going to get a great pick. The pick is going to be fine. The point is, are they going to miss on the pick or are they going to nail the pick? That’s all that matters.”
JT makes a reasonable argument, but it’s also true that the Raiders have won just enough games in recent years to miss out on the top college quarterbacks. They have tried to move up for a couple of quarterbacks along the way and simply haven’t been able or willing to pay the price to move up.
The alternative has been stopgap quarterbacks and those have cost the organization a tremendous amount of money and in the case of Geno Smith, draft capital, as well.
At some point, the Raiders have to break the cycle and if there is a quarterback the team likes in this year’s draft, they need to be in position to get that quarterback without giving up bundle of draft picks or having the door slammed in their face.
If there isn’t a quarterback they like, maybe Tom Brady and John Spytek can trade back and get a stockpile of picks to help fill the 16-18 new starters they are going to need sooner than later.
There’s no guarantee a higher pick (in all seven rounds of the draft) is going to change the course of the franchise, but it can’t hurt.
What has hurt is the way things have played out for the last decade, and the fan base has reached a tipping point. They’re sick of reclamation projects and late-round quarterbacks.
A win on Sunday would be a nice time at the stadium and at the bars, but there’s also no shame in focusing on the future and trusting the decision makers in the Raiders’ building to make good decisions with as many resources as possible.
As always, your comments are welcomed below.
x: @raidersbeat
Look, trading back to get more picks is a good idea. Also let’s trade Max CROSBY and get Evan more first round picks. His career will be over before the raiders right the ship. They need to trade him now, while he still has great value.
JT, I liked your takes fine when you were making your bones as a talk show host. Now, your just a shill for the organization and everything that comes out of your mouth must be measured by the fans as your opinion, or the con that the front office has asked you to go out and propagate. That being said, I expect every player in the locker room should want to do his best every game, simply because it is their job and career. Half these guys will not be on this team next year, but they shouldn’t want video out there of them slacking off, losing games on purpose. They could well be looking for work elsewhere. My opinion is we should “hope” to lose the rest of the games. If we can screw up Denver or KC’s season, I’ll be happy to fall down the draft board.
JT says this mess every year. He’s just a blowhard. Now Vinny B is a shill but he will let you in on some inside information once in awhile.
We are better off losing. That’s the fact, now these owners still suck
In the NFL NO PLAYERS TANK – EVER!! Some may lose a bit of focus when getting through a Horrific and discouraging season but thart is a Coaching Issue. Players are Highly Competitive – it is in their DNA or they would not have made it to the league. They Want to WIN… ALWAYS. That said… Screw a “Franchise” QB in the 2026 Draft… the game is and has Always been won in the Trenches. Chicago is a Great example of what Happens when you have OL’s and DL’s who are Bullies and Dominate their opponents. Caleb is NOT a Great QB – look at his Stats … 58% completions tghis year… when is that Worth a Crap in the NFL. It’s the Big Uglies Stupid!!! Use the #1 for Francis Mauigoa, Miami or Spencer Fano, Utah. First Year Starters with Pro Bowl Potential as Rookies and YOUNG!!! and the Draft a QB crap? 78% of ALL 1st Round Franchise QB locks FAIL!!! Something to think about… OL and DL top two picks 2026 – 2027 and Maybe even 2028… Want Long term Soccess for once? Do This… BTW when y’all are pining over the Great Raider Days take a look at the Linemen on those teams!!!
After the Denver game, I wouldn’t say they tanked the last 3 games. That’s is very harsh. I say some of the players, mostly on defense were making business decisions on the field. There are 3 to 4 players who come to mind. I’m not going to out anyone, but if you watched the game it’s pretty obvious.
Yes, THE real Mr. Davis, knew what kept that team in the post season annually. Otto, Shell, Upshaw, Brown, Dalby Lawrence, Mosebar, Wisnewski…..He kept those men happy and productive, in most cases, even after their playing careers finished. It’s why the Raiders Alumni day is so well attended, respect for the old man.
I watched BIG10 title game and frankly neither of those guys excited me. I was touting to draft linemen last year. We should sign the a above average FA lineman, he won’t be real good because teams don’t let real good linemen loose. We are a bit desperate. Definitely should be drafting a tackle with whatever 1st round pick we get, if they don’t grade that high, trade back a few spots and accumulate a pick, but don’t miss that guy!
It’s not tanking at all. What it is is sucking. The roster that’s been put together flat out sucks. The coaching staff flat out sucks. The scouting department flat out sucks. Mark made a calculation last year that Tom Brady would be his new football czar, boy was he wrong. Al would’ve made Ben Johnson the HC the year before. He wouldn’t have had a problem with his age but only the results on the field. The biggest problem on the team is Mark. He knows nothing about who to listen to. So now we’re stuck in a rudderless ship with old man Pete, worthless Tom, and Spytek at the helm. Pathetic. And JT the season has been over since Mark said welcome to the Raiders, Tom. I’m so glad to give you shares for a heavily discounted rate.