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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in development ventures in the UK. He has promoted digital assets. He's spreading American football to Saudi Arabia. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is not a casual commitment. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the least successful team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this current situation was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Series of Questionable Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's football decisions, becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last summer, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the league.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to oversee a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and drafting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved handing a flaky offensive line – the foundation for that coach and running back – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive rookie class that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, accepting what the defense gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players represent promise. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season thinking they were a couple of moves away from respectability. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they failed to adjust midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the management regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Uncertain Direction

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on other projects?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have paths. The New York Jets are stocked with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

The single factor more dangerous than being bad in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will make decisions in the summer.

Tom Brady once mastered football through ruthless focus. The Raiders could benefit from more than limited attention of it.