No team in the NFL has been as dysfunctional in the last two decades as the Las Vegas Raiders. This has been joyous for LA Chargers fans, who haven't enjoyed much team success in that span but have watched a despised rival struggle.
The latest reinvention of the Raiders includes Tom Brady as minority owner, Pete Carroll as head coach and Geno Smith as quarterback. In classic silver and black fashion, Raiders fans are convinced this is the situation that will finally work out. History says otherwise.
How can Chargers fans be confident that the Raiders' circus will continue in 2025? Well, because it is already happening! The 2025 NFL Draft hasn't even happened yet and the Raiders are already dealing with their first contract holdout of the year.
#Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not currently participating in the voluntary offseason program as he seeks a contract extension, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 16, 2025
Miller, 29, is a seven-year starter and 2026 free agent. Las Vegas has not engaged in contract talks with the former first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/wGhr8j05Jn
Kolton Miller's Raiders holdout is comedy gold for Chargers fans
To be fair, Miller is sitting out of voluntary workout sessions that are taking place months before the start of the season. There is plenty of time for the two sides to work things out, and sitting out of voluntary workouts isn't the worst thing in the world.
That being said, if there is one team in the league that will bungle this situation it is the Raiders. The fact that the two sides have not even discussed a new contrat is telling on which direction this may go.
Losing Miller after the 2025 season would be a nightmare for the Raiders. Miller has established himself as one of the best tackles in the league, logging an 80.6 Pro Football Focus grade that ranked 14th in the NFL.
Even worse for the Raiders would be a situation in which this bleeds into the regular season. While it is probably unlikely Miller will sit out any games, a contract dispute can bleed into the preseason, which as history tells us, could lead to a slow start for the former UCLA tackle.
At the end of the day a potential contract dispute with a franchise tackle is an unnecessary distraction for a team that is trying to turn the corner and make the playoffs. But this isn't new for the Raiders, who have historically dealt with distraction after distraction over the last two decades.
But hey, at least this is good for Chargers fans, who already have to deal with playing in a loaded division. The longer the Raiders can stab themselves in the foot to stay in the basement, the better.