Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions, Emails

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.--The Las Vegas Raiders fans are rabid for information on their team, so we take time to answer your questions and emails each week.

Hi Hondo. I want your opinion. What is the percentage chance that the Raiders would move up to the number one spot for Bryce Young or any player? --K. Heibels

1 percent. The cost is brutal, please see next question.

Hondo, I am not sure if you know this, but what are you hearing the Chicago Bears are asking for the number one spot? --Brandon D.

They want a 2023 first and second-round pick and 2024 and 2025 first-round picks.

Hondo, I trust you. I have been so angry at the Raiders over the last 20+ years. I admit I am emotional. Do you think Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler are competent and can lead this team to the post-season? --C. Willie

Yes, I do. I will be criticized for supporting McDaniels and Ziegler only because I want access. That is laughable. I say what I believe, which has no bearing on my access. Do they have something to prove? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that I think they can do the job. The issue to me is not if they can do the job but will they be allowed to do it.

Hondo, if you had to make an educated guess, would Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels be back in 2024? --Thank you, Jeff S.

Yes.

Hondo, you have been teasing us with nuggets from the NFL Combine. I have no patience. Give me something, big man. --Mike D.

The Raiders are meeting with various positions, but they all have a commonality of play. This regime loves Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams. They love their work ethic in practice, in the film room, and how they handle themselves off the field. They are passionate and intelligent, and they take care of their business. Trust me on this; that has NOT been how the Raiders have handled the process in the past. Secondly, the 18-minute interviews you get with players here show the rest of the NFL some things about the mindset. One NFL Executive told me last night: "Every kid they are meeting with fits that same mold. You know exactly what they are looking at when you get the list and see who they are talking to, and they have clarity for sure."

Hi Hondo, my question is, have you ever seen such a dysfunctional, unaware, and seemingly unprepared staff? Lastly, I'm sorry for the hate you get, and I do believe you stick to the middle fairly well. --Thanks, Jeff M.

I am around this team and staff nearly every day. I do not believe that they are as you described. I have seen far worse, far worse. I respect your opinion, but as someone who has been around for a long time (I'm old), this is a well-run team. Perfect? No, but far from the worse.

Hey Hondo, I have been a Raiders fan since 1967, and never in all my years did I ever think this team would turn so bad for so long. This is a league of parity, yet the Raiders never seem good. This team quit this year under McDaniels! Your thoughts? --Pat K

I can tell you this. You asked, so I will say to you. I showed your email to one of the Raiders' best players, and he laughed at your last sentence about the team quitting on McDaniels. Say what you want, you have the right, but it isn't true.

If you don't want to believe me, or the players who say it on camera, that is your choice. I am not afraid to tell you that if it were true, it isn't.

Hello Hondo, thanks for the weekly Q&A and subtle reminder at the end that some people are just downright hateful. Tanner McKee is a name I'm not hearing much yet for draft purposes (2nd round). What's your take on him? --Thanks again! Dan Y.

Sure, the quarterback out of Stanford is big, and has a monster arm. He is not a runner; he is a quintessential pocket QB. His accuracy is questionable (62 percent), but it isn't on him when you watch the film. He didn't have the best wide receivers to throw to. He has a future in the NFL. If Josh McDaniels wants a QB who can make some plays with his feet, this is the ideal guy, but if he wants a guy who can do things like Patrick Mahomes, he is not. I believe you will see on Monday in my first MOCK draft for the first two rounds that I think they are looking in a different direction. He is the choice if they choose to stay with a pocket guy who isn't athletic. I like him as a pocket QB a lot.

Hey Hondo. I have a question regarding the NFL tampering rules. Can a retired player still under contract talk to teams before the March 15th start of free agency? I've seen some things regarding Brady potentially un-retiring again and wondered if the fact that he filed retirement papers with the NFL would allow him to talk to the Raiders before March 15th without violating the tampering rules. --Love your work! Thanks, Cameron Boyle, Provo, Utah

No, he can't. But they do.

Hondo!!! I just wanted to take a second and thank you for all you do to keep us fans as informed as humanly possible! If Gruden doesn't get cold feet on the Tom Brady signing, do those emails ever see the light of day? --Corey Sanford

Yes. Based on what I have learned, this was an attack on Jon Gruden.

This was someone with a grudge to get him.

I haven't seen an update on your percentages on what QB we may get. I'd like to see that again. --Thank you! Dennis Pourtau

There was a time when it was Tom Brady's and Aaron Rodgers if they wanted it, and reasonable deals were worked out. If Jimmy Garappolo is your QB next year, the moment he gets hurt, you should be criticized. He, as of yet, hasn't proven he can stay healthy. Great guy, but so was Derek Carr, and he was always playing.

If I had to give odd now, it would be:

94 percent sign a veteran and draft a rookie to develop behind him.

5 percent Aaron Rodgers and you draft a rookie to develop behind him.

1 percent Tom Brady un-retires, and you draft a rookie to develop behind him.

Hi Hondo, Thanks for your coverage of the Raiders! I am glad you aren't going to cover Derek Carr anymore. Time to move on. What are you hearing about Davante Adams? If the Raiders can't get Aaron Rodgers, will he play with Jimmy Garoppolo? Or a rookie QB? --Emily B.

Davante Adams is bought-in with McDaniels and Ziegler. He is in the loop on what they are thinking, and I do not see a scenario in which he isn't back.

Hondo, I loved seeing you on TV and listening to you all week on the radio. I got a full fix of Uncle Hondo, and I loved it. Quick question, I heard you mention next week, your first mock draft is coming out for the first two rounds. How many picks did you say you predict the Raiders will make? I was excited. --Kurt V.

I think they make a total of four picks in totality in rounds one and two.

The MOCK draft will be out a Noon EST on Monday, and it is four players, two on defense, two on offense, at four different positions, and all four men are guys I know the Raiders like, and are interested in based on what I hear around the NFL.

Now from our weekly Hate Hondo email:

You are a fat, worthless pig who is admittedly not a Raiders fan, and that means you shouldn't be covering our team. That job should be reserved for fans of the team. You completely suck and are horrible at your job. --Vince L.

I feel bad for the people who are Raiders fans and are so loyal that you and all of the media are nothing short of lap dogs for Mark Davis. I heard how he feeds you at games and treats you all well to control you. Like the rest of the media, you are liberal hacks selling nothing but fake news. I feel sorry for your adopted baby and that you are his dad. --M. Rochester

Mark Davis should ban you from the building. While he is at it, he should fire the clowns McZiegler. It is obvious to anyone with a brain that you are their puppet and a piece of s**t like them. Let me be obvious: I hate all three of you. --Greg S.

Hondo, I saw you, Josh McDaniels, and Dave Ziegler talking at (place redacted by Hondo). Just three buddies hanging out. I believe you, and they were sent here to undermine the Raiders. For that, I hope you die a painful death like you are doing to our team. I will also marry your hot wife, and it will be to spite you. --Bill H.

If you have a question you would like answered, please send it to me at: SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com, and please put Raiders Q/A in the subject line.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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