John Spytek doesn’t have to look far for offseason inspiration.
The Las Vegas Raiders general manager can simply look at the New England Patriots — the AFC representative in Super Bowl LX — for a insight as he embarks on an integral offseason for the Silver & Black.
New England went from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to rise like a phoenix out of the ashes with a 14-3 overall mark this past regular season and a Super Bowl berth after dropping the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game this past Sunday.
There’s an offseason blueprint playing out in real time for the Raiders and Spytek would be wise to not only delve into the Patriots offseason to get to this point, but also apply some of that methodology.
Sure, sure. Spytek’s first task is to hire the next head coach for his football team. The general manager and minority owner Tom Brady are the two pinpointed by owner Mark Davis for this important task. And with Broncos offensive pass game coordinator/quarterback coach Davis Webb withdrawing from consideration for the head coach gig in Las Vegas, it’s Klint Kubiak or bust. So we should find out this weekend if Spytek, Brady, and the Raiders have a lead man incoming.
But be it the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator or another candidate, they’ll need a roster infusion this offseason. And the Patriots template is a good one to follow. New England nailed the head coach hire — Mike Vrabel — spent coin in free agency, and received contributions from the prior two draft classes to go from cellar dweller to the conference’s best.
Vrabel’s hiring truly created a cultural shift in New England. Accountability, adaptability, and communication are his calling cards. Add in Vrabel’s playing career with the Patriots (three Super Bowl rings) and it’s no surprise to see the Patriots turnaround. He’s brutally honest and demanding, but his relationship building fosters an environment where his players will run through a wall for Vrabel.
With a head coach in tow, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel and de facto GM Eliot Wolf stocked New England’s roster by spending ample cap space wisely in free agency. The big coin went to defensive tackle Milton Williams (four-year, $104 million), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (three-year, $69 million), and cornerback Carlton Davis III (three-year, $54 million). Williams produced double-digit pressures to go with his 3.5 sacks and 29 total tackles while Davis allowed a 58.1 completion rate with 10 pass deflections and 69 total tackles. Diggs, meanwhile, became an ample target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye with 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.
But Wolf also added offensive linemen Morgan Moses (tackle) and Garrett Bradbury (center) to reinforce the trenches while adding former Vrabel pupil Harold Landry and former Raider K’Lavon Chaisson and the pass rushers produced — team-leading 8.5 sacks for Landry and 7.5 sacks for Chaisson. Wolf went to the Raiders well twice as he inked middle linebacker Robert Spillane (three-year, $33 million) and the former Silver & Black Mike linebacker led New England with 97 total tackles.
Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots landed tackle Will Campbell No. 4 overall and running back TreVeyon Henderson int he second round (38th overall; 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries) and safety Craig Woodson in the fourth round (106th overall; 79 total tackles, three pass deflections). Oh, Wolf also snagged edge rusher Elijah Ponder as an undrafted free agent and the rookie racked up four sacks to go with 24 total tackles and four stops for loss. Those youngsters joined the prize of the Patriots’ 2024 draft: Maye, the No. 3 overall pick.
Those are things the Raiders desperately need: An effective head coach, infusion of talent on the roster via free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, and a quarterback. Strangely enough, Las Vegas can check those boxes this offseason.
Wild, right?
Which makes the eventual decision on who is Las Vegas’ head coach crucial. After back-to-back one-and-done full-time head coach firings — Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll — Spytek and Brady need to nail this hire. The next head coach will hire their staff, instill philosophies and schemes, which will trickle down to which players suite the concepts.
First will be looking at the current roster and making in-house decisions. Whether that’s to outright release or trade players to signing their own free agents, the head coach and GM will be quite busy from the get. That’s followed by free agency in March where Las Vegas can bolster its roster that has several needs. Then comes the draft in April, where it seems it’s inevitable Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the Raiders’ choice with the No. 1 overall pick.
A true Raiders renaissance could be on the horizon.
That can start by landing Kubiak. Followed by spending money in free agency, and a strong draft — where the next quarterback awaits to be picked.
