The Las Vegas Raiders have some seriously hyped new faces, but according to ESPN, they’re not going to be worth watching this season. Yeah, you read that right. Ben Solak of ESPN just dropped his NFL watchability rankings, and the Raiders are chilling way down at No. 27, which is a total gut punch for a team that actually has a veteran quarterback in Kirk Cousins and a Heisman-winning rookie waiting in the wings with Fernando Mendoza.
Why Kirk Cousins Won’t Save The Show, According to ESPN
Honestly, you’d think with edge rusher Maxx Crosby back, and Cousins taking over, there’d be some buzz, right? Rookie Fernando Mendoza is even ready to jump in when his time comes. But Solak is absolutely not buying the “must-watch TV” argument. His biggest beef? Cousins himself. Solak thinks the guy just won’t be exciting to watch, period. He says teams like the Raiders are “always challenging to handle in the watchability rankings.” And when Cousins is slinging the ball? “The Raiders will not be very watchable,” he states. Ouch. Solak’s prediction is a “middling offense.” And get this: even if they *are* good, he thinks it’ll be “annoying” because it means Mendoza, their first overall pick, won’t play anytime soon. Talk about a no-win scenario for the veteran!
Mendoza’s “Middling Offense” and the Few Bright Spots
Solak’s not much more optimistic about the future with Mendoza. He admits people will probably tune in when Mendoza finally hits the field. But then he hits us with another dose of reality: “the most likely outcome is… they’ll be a middling offense under Mendoza, and the novelty will wear off.” So, not only is Cousins boring, but the rookie isn’t going to be a long-term thrill either, apparently. Is there ANY good news? Solak does say tight end Brock Bowers is “a good watch,” and running back Ashton Jeanty will be “a delight to see” when he returns from his right ankle sprain. But in the end, it all comes back to Mendoza being the “key” to watchability, and even that’s loaded with the condition that he needs to “look good when he starts playing.” Sounds like a low bar for excitement.
This ranking isn’t about wins and losses yet, but it’s a serious slap in the face for any Raiders fan hoping for some entertaining football this year. With Cousins starting and Mendoza waiting in the wings, can they actually prove ESPN’s Solak dead wrong and be anything but “middling”? It’s a huge question mark hovering over their season already.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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