Antonio Pierce On Raiders Fans Mad At Win Hurting NFL Draft Position: ‘Talk To Tom Telesco’

Corey Hansford
Corey Hansford
3 Min Read
Mar 25, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce talks to media during the NFL annual league meetings at the JW Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

With playoff hopes long gone, much of the talk surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders is focused on the offseason and what GM Tom Telesco will do to further build this roster and get the team back into contention, particularly in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, for head coach Antonio Pierce and all the players and staff in the locker room, there are still games to play, and they plan to win each one.

That finally came to fruition on Sunday as the Raiders ended their 10-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. All of the players and staff were in a great mood following the win, and even owner Mark Davis was in the locker room celebrating with the team. But that win dropped the Raiders from second to sixth in the order for the draft, which some fans were disappointed with.

When that subject was brought up to Pierce at the postgame press conference, however, the Raiders coach had a simple answer, directing any talk of that to Telesco via Vegas Sports Today:

As a coach, it is Pierce’s job to win games; that is what he has been trying to do all season long. And with he and his staff having no assurances beyond this season and the possibility that he could be let go at the end of the year, the thought of the Raiders’ draft spot is the last thing on his mind, and rightfully so.

Pierce was put in a tough position this season, especially with the Raiders’ quarterback situation being what it is. That being said, he has gotten this team to play extremely hard for him all season long, and he and all of those players deserve to enjoy this win and leave the worries about the offseason and the draft to GM Tom Telesco and the rest of the Raiders front office.

Owner Mark Davis celebrated Raiders win with the players in the locker room

Perhaps owner Mark Davis will worry about the draft ramifications at a later time, but in the immediate aftermath of the Raiders’ first victory since September, he was in a great mood.

Following the win, Davis was seen in the Raiders locker room clapping and enjoying the win with the players. By all accounts, he was in a good mood, and the Raiders fall in draft order was not affecting him in the least.

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Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.