The Las Vegas Raiders have spent years searching for stability, often making bold decisions that failed to deliver lasting results. After another turbulent season, the franchise appears to be charting a different course. This time, the reaction around the league feels noticeably different and cautiously optimistic.
How Did the Raiders Shift Strategy After Learning From Last Year’s Coaching Misstep?
NFL analyst Alex Kennedy of PFSNÂ offered strong praise for the Raiders’ expected hiring of Klint Kubiak while appearing on the “Miller and Moulton” podcast.
Kennedy acknowledged the risk involved with a late coaching hire but argued that the Raiders ultimately landed one of the most impressive candidates available.
“Yeah, you know, I would say Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas… I think Kubiak was one of my top coaching candidates this cycle,” Kennedy said. He credited Kubiak’s late-season work and postseason performance for elevating multiple offensive players and highlighted his ability to create favorable situations through scheme and play design.
Kennedy’s assessment stood in direct contrast to the Raiders’ decision a year earlier. The hiring of Pete Carroll was widely viewed as a win-now move, but Kennedy suggested the roster never matched that timeline.
READ MORE: Top 100 2026 NFL Free Agent Rankings
He suggested the roster had too many deficiencies for the team to believe that adding Carroll and Geno Smith alone could realistically fix its problems, making last year’s strategy feel misguided from the outset.
That context makes the shift toward Kubiak especially notable. Rather than chasing immediate results, the Raiders appear focused on long-term development, particularly at quarterback.
Multiple reports indicate that the Raiders plan to select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Kubiak’s offensive background aligns directly with that goal.
News broke Sunday evening that the Raiders and Kubiak have reached a verbal agreement, with the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator set to officially take over after Super Bowl 60. The hire reinforces the organization’s intent to pair a young quarterback with a coach capable of maximizing offensive growth.
Judy Battista of NFL.com echoed that sentiment while evaluating the league’s recent coaching hires. Battista emphasized the importance of patience, something the Raiders have struggled to show in recent years.
“This deal can’t be officially completed until after the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, but the intention is clear: to pair a young, offensive mind in Kubiak… with the presumed first-overall draft pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and let them grow together,” Battista wrote.
Battista also noted that Kubiak inherits a roster in need of a full offensive reset and warned that success will depend on the front office providing consistent support. She pointed to the team’s instability and the need for smart drafting and free-agent spending, especially within a highly competitive division.
For now, league voices largely agree that the Raiders made the right call. After years of short-term thinking, the Kubiak hire signals a philosophical reset. Whether that patience finally materializes may determine if this move becomes the foundation the Raiders have been missing.
