Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions, Emails

The Las Vegas Raiders fan base is ravenous for information, and each week we endeavor to feed that voracious appetite with our weekly question-and-answer article.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders fan base is ravenous for information, and each week we endeavor to feed that voracious appetite with our weekly question-and-answer article: So without any further adieu, here we go:

Hondo, I appreciate the way you cover the Raiders. Of all the players picked between rounds three and seven, who will be the biggest surprise in four years? --Melissa C.

That is a great question, but picking one is tough in being transparent. CB Jakorian Bennett, DT Byron Young, and S Chris Smith are all excellent players. If you forced me to pick one, I would say Byron Young.

Hondo, how big a deal is it that Tyree Wilson is already signed? I like the way Dave Ziegler is attacking it. --Anne S.

I think it is very significant. No distractions; get guys in now and get them under the care of the Raiders. How aggressively Ziegler is getting this class signed so fast is very impressive.

Hondo, with all of the Las Vegas Raiders' new wide receivers, I think it is obvious that Hunter Renfrow’s future is in doubt. I criticized you for reporting that a long time ago. So when do you think he will get moved? --Chris W.

I don’t expect anything until post-June 1.  I want to make this clear. I have reported that I don't expect him back; I am not reporting his departure as a fact. I know that the Raiders won't give him away. They love him. That said, I don't expect his return.

Hondo, if you had to guess, does Josh Jacobs play under the franchise tag, or does a long-term deal get done? --Thank you, Chris T.

If I had to guess, I think he plays on the tag. I think both parties would like a longer deal, but I also think both parties have very strong differences in what that deal should look like.

Hondo, I listened to Davante Adams on a podcast say: "If we play a certain brand of ball, I can get Jimmy Garoppolo to conform to whatever. But if we use him a certain way, then it will make it tough for us to maximize who we should be this year." I know he told you he was happy, but do you still feel he is? --Stephen P.

Yes, I do believe that he is. You need to understand something, Davante has a great relationship with Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels. They aren’t like the New England Patriots because they don’t mind their players speaking their minds. The Raiders took a massive risk betting on Jimmy Garoppolo because of his injury history. If Jimmy goes down and misses key time, several people, including this reporter, will point fingers at Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels for this risk. I wrote about this recently. Davante is giving them the benefit of the doubt, but they rolled the dice and will be held accountable. Many people, myself included, thought that was a very risky move. Davante is the consummate professional, his admittance of not seeing eye-to-eye, you have to believe him. I do not think that is his saying he wants out at all.  I know he is committed to winning here. He doesn't agree with everything. Welcome to the real world; nobody agrees on everything, and he is allowed to voice that here.

Hondo, you seem afraid of holding Mark Davis, Josh McDaniels, and Dave Ziegler accountable. I love your coverage and assure you I am not attacking you. I am just curious as to why? --Kimberly W.

First of all, I don’t think your question is outside the lines at all. First, let’s start with Mark Davis. When he fired Rich Bisaccia, I said he let his second coach, who led his team to the NFL Playoffs, go. If the Raiders went backward, it was all on him. Not sure how that isn’t keeping people accountable. That is one example of many. Secondly, I have said that if Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t stay healthy in 2023, no one is to blame more than Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler. If Garoppolo is healthy, they get all the credit. If he doesn’t, they get all of the blame. Those are two examples, and I believe there are more. Sometimes people think holding people accountable is also attacking people. I don’t share that.

Hondo, I know that you are level-headed, and I am curious about Rich Bisaccia. Do you think he is head coach material? --K. Johnson

100 percent, I do. He should be a coach in the NFL right now.

Hondo, I am not sure if you saw the Los Angeles Chargers schedule release video, but to me, it was a cheap shot at the Raiders. What do you think? Do you know what the Raiders thought? --Thank you, Vicky D.

I didn’t think it was disrespectful, but I’ll tell you that if you don’t like a schedule release video, play better. I think that is the way the Raiders took it; want respect? Earn it.

should we REALLY make our schedule release video an anime AGAIN?

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— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 12, 2023

Hondo, do you think Tom Brady buying a share of the Raiders is inevitable? I hate the idea, what do you think of it? --Carl L.

First, it is not inevitable, but there has been significant discussion. I also have been told that: “There could be another team in the equation,” according to an NFL league source. He is the greatest quarterback of all time and a winner. I don’t think Mark Davis cares what fans think, and a chance to add the man arguably considered the best is a big deal and high profile for the owner.

Hondo, if Tom Brady was to buy a part of the Raiders, could he eventually buy the team from Mark Davis? --Ugh, Vincent W.

He certainly could; that would be a Mark Davis decision.

This week we have plenty of Hondo hate mail, so here you go:

Hondo S. mother (edited) Carpenter, you are a worthless piece of flesh. Every member of the Raiders media is attacking this team because they are a total failure, and either you are too stupid to know it or so f****ing fake, to tell the truth. I blame you for our fans' optimism. --Keith M.

Hondo, you are the worst journalist of all time and a terrible human being. Your only redeeming quality is a hot wife who is only with you for money. I can't wait to see your old ass has died. I hate that you are nothing but the voice box of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler. Please, I pray you, Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler die now. What do you have to say for your fat self? I hate you. --Martin R.

Hondo, I have been a Raiders fan since 1967.  Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler are two impressive football minds.  Sadly, you suck up to Mark Davis and take many cheap shots.  I hate the Patriots, not as much as you and Mark Davis, and I would rather Mark sell the team to Tom Brady, and you exit with him stage right. --Joseph W.

Well, Martin R. ain't lying about my wife?

If you want to be answered in our weekly questions and answer article, email me at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com, and please put Raiders Q/A in the subject line.

The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:

OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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