In Carroll’s first offseason in Vegas, he brought in a swath of players that fit his brand of football. Yet, most of those moves didn’t work out, with veterans struggling on both sides of the ball. Generally, teams will lean toward youth in a lost season, moving on from veterans who might block a first- or second-year player from getting snaps.
Sitting five games back in the win column in the AFC West, Carroll didn’t sound inclined to reconsider his expectations.
“The answer is, ‘We always compete.’ We compete at every turn, and there’s a chance coming up for the deadline hitting,” Carroll said. “Maybe there’s something there …
“You’re either competing or you’re not, simple as that.”
It’s one thing to compete. It’s another thing to have the horses to be competitive. The Raiders lack talent in key areas. Sometimes, all the competing in the world can’t overcome that gap.
The Raiders have several movable players ahead of the deadline. It’s no surprise they won’t move Maxx Crosby — a foundational pillar. However, a player like Jakobi Meyers, who has asked for a trade, could be moved, as he isn’t part of the long-term plans. The Raiders have eschewed making a move as of yet. We’ll see if that tune changes in the next few hours.
