The Raiders are currently owners of the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but head coach Antonio Pierce is still optimistic about the pieces the team has in place.
Simply put, the Las Vegas Raiders are having a terrible season.
Despite being the current owner of the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, head coach Antonio Pierce has remained optimistic.
After the team's latest loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Pierce's seat got even hotter, and when asked about his future, the former linebacker simply said, "I'm under contract."
Sitting at 2-12 on the season, the Raiders seem primed to get their pick of the litter once the draft clock officially starts ticking, but Pierce hasn't blamed the players for the position they are in, and his latest comments echo his optimism.
"This is a talented team. We're just young right now," Pierce said.
Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Objectively, he isn't wrong. The Raiders are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and they only got younger once they offloaded Davante Adams, but on top of that, they do have some serious talent within their ranks.
Tight end Brock Bowers is nearing a thousand-yard season, and even Maxx Crosby is only 27 years old. Sure, the on-field product as a whole has been abysmal this year, but there have been bright spots, and the team has been plagued with injuries, which surely hasn't helped the cause.
Should the Raiders get the first overall pick, it's almost a guarantee that they select Colorado star Shedeur Sanders, and if the upper brass decides Pierce needs to go, Deion Sanders could be following his son to Sin City.
Regardless, the team is only going to get younger, and much more talented, especially when it comes to the most important position on the field, and while it may take a few seasons to put it all together, the foundational pieces are in place for a successful future for the Silver and Black.
