Raiders should keep Jack Del Rio for 2018

There has been plenty of talk about the Oakland Raiders over the past two seasons.

In 2016, the Raiders stormed out of the gates and shocked everybody to a 12-4 record, good for a wild card berth in the AFC playoffs. For Oakland, it was the first postseason berth since 2002, and if it wasn’t for Derek Carr breaking his leg on Christmas Eve, perhaps the Raiders could have done more than lost in the opening round.

Afterwards, a slew of wild expectations hovered over the team throughout the offseason and into training camp, and the Raiders seemed to be living up to them. Oakland started the season 2-0, but since then, it has been alll downhill. Under head coach Jack Del Rio, the team sputtered out of control, going 4-9 the rest of the way as we head into Week 17.

With that in mind, there are ample calls for Del Rio’s firing, especially after he has changed both offensive and defensive coordinators since the end of last season.

So why not make a change at the top? For starters, the Raiders handed Del Rio a brand new four-year contract in February, ensuring that he would be part of the team’s long-term future. Firing him now would both be a bad signal to any prospective head coaches, and also be quite expensive for owner Mark Davis.

Additionally, Del Rio shouldn’t be the one getting the lion’s share of the blame. Where has general manager Reggie McKenzie been when it comes to fixing the defensive side of the ball? Outside of All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack, the Raiders have almost no talent to speak of on that side of the ball.

Oakland has handed out big money to Sean Smith, Reggie Nelson and Bruce Irvin, all with little impact. The Raiders also spent their first two 2017 draft picks on corner Gareon Conley and safety Obi Melifonwu. Neither did anything of note, with Conley playing in two games before going on Injured Reserve with a shin injury, and Melifonwu seeing five games before also going on IR.

If Del Rio is going to get the ouster, fine, but McKenzie should be right there with him. The Raiders have long talked about McKenzie’s brilliance in the draft, highlighted by Carr, Mack and Amari Cooper. While Mack is an unqualified success, Carr has been more average than great, and Cooper has been in the midst of an incredible disappearing act. This season, Cooper has 45 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns.

Instead of panicking and making sweeping changes, the Raiders should attempt to fortify the defense, add a younger running back and leave Del Rio in place. Another bad year could justifiably spell doom for both McKenzie and Del Rio, but sometimes, patience is rewarded.