Uncategorized – Takes By Tony

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz Indicted for Illegal Sports Gambling

Just last week, the UFC was being investigated by the FBI for potential fight rigging and same goes for the NBA, where Terry Rozier was busted for allegedly throwing games. Now, we have the same situation going on in baseball with Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.

This is becoming a trend that is extremely concerning. There is a major crackdown happening that is exposing athletes from various sports leagues. It makes you think of how many games are being rigged by the players and the large sums of money that citizens are either winning or losing on sports gambling apps like Fanduel and DraftKings, which are both heavily promoted in the sports world.

Some of the charges that Clase and Ortiz are facing include bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. During the investigation by the MLB, they found that both pitchers were telling bettors to bet on a ball being thrown — which they would deliberately throw for quick cash.

On apps like Fanduel, you have the ability to bet on whether the pitcher will throw a strike or a ball, and can also bet on the velocity of the pitch. This method allowed the players to rack up quick cash on each pitch thrown while also trying to cover up their tracks by not making it too obvious.

Pitching is extremely difficult, so it is not uncommon for them to throw balls. But when you take a deeper dive into Emmanuel Clase, red flags have been exposed. Videos have surfaced online that show Clase facing off against Yankee shortstop Anthony Volpe. In the at-bat, Clase was allegedly trying to throw balls which Volpe would end up striking out on. Following the strikeout, Emmanuel’s voice could be heard on the TV broadcast shouting and cursing, saying “F**k”.

No pitcher would ever be upset with a strikeout unless they were intentionally rigging games. This comes as a shock considering Clase has been known as one of the best closers in the MLB over the past few years.

As of now, Luis Oritz was arrested but posted bond where he is pleading not guilty. Clase has not yet been arrested but both players will be in court Thursday. If convicted on all charges, they can face up to 65 years in prison. Stay tuned.

Mavericks Fire GM Nico Harrison After 3-8 Start

The Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison after a disastrous start to the 2025 season and his questionable decision-making the past few years. Harrison was signed by Dallas on June 28, 2021, where he made an immediate impact on the franchise.

The Mavericks would go on to have a 52-30 record in Harrison’s first season, where they made the playoffs and reached the Western Conference Finals, but ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors. In just his first year with the team they nearly made the NBA finals so it looked like Harrison was a fantastic hire. However, he made some very head-scratching moves in the following years that led to him being relieved of his duties.

Such as getting rid of NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, who has completely saved the New York Knicks franchise. Brunson was drafted by Dallas in 2018, where he was coming off a national championship at Villanova. He then grew into a very good role player for Dallas and had massive playoff performances when Luka Doncic was out with an injury.

Despite all this, when Brunson became a free agent and wanted to re-sign with the Mavericks, Nico Harrison did not value Brunson enough to give him the contract extension he desired and let him walk. Since that decision, Jalen Brunson has evolved into a top-five point guard in the NBA and has taken the New York Knicks to three straight playoff appearances.

Not only did Harrison let Brunson walk, but he also traded All-Star Kristaps Porzingis for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Dinwiddie was very solid in his first stint with Dallas but it was short lived as he was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets just a year later in 2023 for Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in NBA history but ever since that trade occurred he’s been unable to stay healthy. Appearing in just 138 games over the last three years, and has yet to play in 2025 as he is recovering from a torn ACL.

The final straw for Nico Harrison was when he decided to trade the generational talent and franchise favorite Luka Doncic to the Lakers in 2024 for Anthony Davis. This was a move that no one ever saw coming, as it seemed Luka would remain a Dallas Maverick until his career was over. This sent the entire Mavericks fanbase in a frenzy from which they still have not recovered from to this day. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the American Airlines Center and protested the decision.

This move was so serious that Nico Harrison would receive death threats from Mavericks fans. His time was up in Dallas, it was just a matter of when at this point. Harrison somehow lasted the entire 2024 season in Dallas and they proceeded to miss the playoffs just a year after reaching the NBA Finals lead by Doncic.

The organization finally had enough after the Mavericks started this season 3-8. Following his firing on Tuesday, fans once again gathered outside the American Airlines Center, except this time they were cheering and relieved. It was a horrible ending to Harrison’s tenure and who knows what his future in the NBA looks like.

Jets Stun Browns in 27-20 Victory

The New York Jets have now won back-to-back games for the first time since the beginning of the 2024 season in their 27-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Coming into this game, both teams have had a rough start to the 2025 season, where the Jets sat at 1-7 with the Browns no better at 2-6.

This was one of the craziest wins I’ve seen from the Jets over the years, as the Browns outplayed them in almost every single category, but thanks to the Jets special teams unit, they made the impossible happen.

New York found themselves down early after a fantastic 95-yard touchdown drive from Browns quarterback Dillion Gabriel, where they took the 7-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Following the touchdown, The Jets responded with their own after returner Kene Nwangwu took it 99 yards to the house, tying the game at 7-7.

But the Jets special teams unit wasn’t done there. After New York forced a quick three and out, punt returner Isaiah Williams scored on a 74-yard punt return touchdown putting the Jets up 14-7. New York put up 14 points without having the offense step on the field in back-to-back possessions. Something you rarely see.

As the game went on, both teams remained competitive. Cleveland tied up the game at 14 following an interception from Jets quarterback Justin Fields in the second quarter. Up to this point, it was a brutal day for Fields who had under 15 yards passing at this point and that didn’t change until after halftime.

On the following possession, Jets kicker Nick Folk hit a 26-yard field goal to take the 17-14 lead and Cleveland responded at the end of the second quarter with a field goal of their own to tie the game at 17-17 going into halftime.

The third quarter was a punt-fest and no one was able to put up points, so we remained tied heading into the fourth quarter. New York wasted no time as running back Breece Hall took a screen pass 42 yards to the endzone to go up 24-17 with 14 minutes remaining. The Jets were getting close to winning their second game of the year.

The Browns marched down the field and found themselves in Jets territory where they were inching closer to tying this game up. That was until they decided to go for it on fourth down and Jets edge rusher Will McDonald would sack Dillon Gabriel to end the possession. It was McDonald’s fourth sack of the game, a new career high as he was impossible to contain.

The Jets went on to win the game 27-20 despite a rough performance from Justin Fields, where he finished his day 6-for-11 with 54 yards, one touchdown and one interception. New York will need more from Fields if they want to make a miracle playoff push.

The Jets have now improved to 2-7 on the season with a difficult matchup coming up this week on Thursday Night Football against the 8-2 New England Patriots. The Browns have now fallen to 2-7 and also have a tough matchup this week as they take on Lamar Jackson and the 4-5 Baltimore Ravens.

KAT Shines in Blowout Win over Struggling Nets

The Knicks took on the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night and handled business. Making it New York’s 11th straight win over Brooklyn, where they have not lost to the Nets since January of 2023, nearly three years ago.

Mike Brown’s impact cannot be understated, he has this Knicks team looking like the Harlem Globetrotters. The ball movement is beautiful to see, and despite New York having a nearly identical roster to last year, they are playing with a different level of confidence.

New York came out of the gates red hot, scoring 40 first-quarter points building an early 18-point lead, which a 1-8 Nets team would attempt to come back from. The odds were not in their favor. However, Brooklyn did have a fantastic second quarter of their own, scoring 40 points as the young group of players seemed to find some chemistry heading into halftime down 77-62.

But unfortunately for Brooklyn, that was the closest they would get for the rest of the night, as the Knicks came out of the half and put up a 35-point quarter to the Nets 17. As good as the Knicks offense was, the defense played lights out and forced the young Nets roster to take contested shot after contested shot. This mentality is what will carry the Knicks throughout the year — playing just as hard when they are up 20 or if it’s a one-score game, never taking their foot off the pedal.

New York went on to win 134-98, making it their fourth straight win while improving to 6-0 at home this year, the best record in the NBA. This blowout was led by “The Big Bodega” himself, Karl-Anthony Towns, who put up 28 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson continues to play well as he made his impact with 11 points and 3 assists off the bench shooting 5-8 from the field.

Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. finished his night with 25 points, the leading scorer for the Nets where he tried to carry the team as much as possible. Nets rookie guard Egor Demin looked solid, putting up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. At just 19 years old he looks like a promising prospect for the franchise.

The Knicks have now improved to 6-3 on the season and will face off against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies Tuesday night. As for the Nets, they now drop to 1-9 on the year, with their next matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. It is going to be a long year for Nets fans.

Is It Time for The Mavericks to Panic?

The Mavericks have had an eventful past year. They shocked the NBA world by trading a generational talent in Luka Doncic in exchange for Anthony Davis, who has not been able to remain healthy. Following the trade, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was ripped apart by the fanbase and media for his actions, it was not looking good in Dallas.

That was until an absolute miracle happened at the NBA Draft Lottery that had many people questioning if it was possibly rigged. With all the negative attention surrounding the franchise, the Mavericks somehow won the Draft Lottery and received the number one pick despite only having a 1.8% chance of winning.

Dallas would now be able to select Cooper Flagg with the first pick, who many people view as a future superstar in the league. The 6-foot-9 phenom made headlines at Duke University averaging 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in his one year at the university. The 18-year-old now starts for the Dallas Mavericks, where their season has not gone to plan thus far.

Nine games into the year, the Mavericks are sitting at 2-7, which is one of the worst records in the NBA and places them dead last in the Western Conference. In their defense, they have had some very close losses which, if a few things had gone their way, they could be sitting with a couple more wins and I wouldn’t be writing this article.

With Anthony Davis out with an Achilles injury and Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL, Dallas has had to rely on the 18-year-old, which is asking a lot for someone who just arrived on the big stage. Despite the pressure, Flagg has had a solid start to his NBA career, averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, but he cannot do this all alone. The biggest disappointment thus far has been Klay Thompson. Dallas signed him to a three-year, $50 million contract last July, and he has been a no-show this year.

Klay is currently playing 20 minutes a night and is only averaging 7 points per game while shooting 26% from three. One of the best shooters in NBA history has looked like a shell of himself so far, and Dallas desperately needs his help.

I think if the Mavericks continue to drop their next few games, it is officially time to panic. The Western Conference is the toughest in the league, and if they fall too far behind it will be extremely difficult to come back from. The success of this team relies on the health of Anthony Davis, who has yet to prove in a Mavericks uniform that he is able to do so. The Mavericks have a favorable matchup against the Washington Wizards tonight, which should get them back in the win column.

UFC 322 Main Card Predictions

After an incredible PPV event at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, headlined by the controversial no-contest main event between Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall and No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane. The UFC heads back to the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, for UFC 322 taking place on Saturday, November 15th.

Beniel Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis

The first fight of the main card features a lightweight bout between No. 8-ranked Beniel Dariush and No. 13-ranked Benoit Saint Denis. Both fighters are coming off of impressive wins but I think this will be too big of a challenge for Dariush. He is 36 years old and is going up against a 29-year old Saint Denis who is currently entering the prime of his career. I don’t see this fight going the distance and believe that we’ll see a round-two finish for Saint Denis who gets the win via submission.

Prediction: Arm Triangle

Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates

Next up, we have No. 4-ranked welterweight Leon Edwards taking on No. 9-ranked Carlos Prates. It has been a rough stretch for Leon, he has lost his last two fights and saw his last win come nearly two years ago. He takes on Carlos Prates who just had a nasty spinning elbow knockout on Geoff Neal in August. I view this as a must-win fight for Edwards because I don’t know what his future in the UFC looks like if he were to lose again.

Unfortunately for Edwards, I think he will ultimately lose this fight. Carlos Prates has a four-inch reach advantage and poses a bigger threat to Leon with his punching power. This should be a fantastic matchup where we see clean exchanges from both fighters, but I believe this fight will go the distance with a 29-28 decision win for Prates. However, don’t be surprised if we see him get the knockout finish in round two or three.

Prediction: Decision

Sean Brady vs Michael Morales

We have another welterweight matchup, this time it’s No. 2-ranked Sean Brady taking on No. 8-ranked Michael Morales. This is one of my favorite matchups on the card, Brady with a record of 18-1 taking on the undefeated 18-0 Morales is sure to bring fireworks for the fans. As of now, the betting lines for this fight are nearly even, with Brady being the slight favorite. As good as Morales is, I think Sean Brady is a future UFC Champion.

His grappling has improved over the years and I think that is his path to victory in this fight. He should be able to control the knockout specialist Morales and take him into deep waters where there is no escape. Sean Brady will win this fight via rear-naked choke in round two. Even if Morales loses this fight, his potential is sky high. He is only 26 years old and has so much room for improvement. I just think it’s Sean Brady’s time to get a title shot, which I think he’ll earn if he gets the job done vs Morales.

Prediction: Rear-naked choke

Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili

In the co-main event of the evening, we have arguably the biggest matchup in women’s UFC history. Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko will face her biggest test yet against China’s Zhang Weili. Zhang Weili has been the face of the women’s strawweight division since 2022 and decided to vacate her championship belt to move up a weight class to create this super fight.

The betting odds for this fight are dead even at -113, and it makes total sense. I truly do not know who will win this fight, both fighters are extremely well-rounded with sharp striking and great chins. If there is one advantage in this fight, I can potentially see Zhang Weili feeling a difference in power since she is going up a weight class and may have trouble adjusting. This fight can go either way, but I’d give the slight edge to Zhang Weili getting the win via split decision, becoming the new Women’s Flyweight Champion of the world.

Prediction : Decision

Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev

The moment you all have been waiting for, in the main event of the evening we have the Welterweight Champion Jack Della Meddalena putting his belt on the line against former Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. Maddalena is coming off of a statement win over Belal Muhammed in May, where he became the new champ, but his competition has only gotten tougher for this matchup. Makhachev vacated his lightweight belt to move up and take over the welterweight division.

Both fighters pose a threat to each other, Della Maddalena has the striking advantage and Makhachev has the grappling. This will be an absolute war, with both fighters likely to be bloodied by the end as they give it their all. But unfortunately for Jack Della Maddalena, his title run will be short lived. I view Makhachev as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world and don’t see any way he loses this fight. He is too strong, too experienced, and too mentally tough for Maddalena. My prediction is he’ll win this fight via submission after wearing down Jack for the first three rounds. Maddalena will make one crucial mistake that costs him his belt.

Prediction : D’arce Choke

Fight Flashback: What’s Next for Charles Oliveira?

Following his devastating loss to lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 in June, Brazil’s Charles Oliveira looked to bounce back against Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Rio De Janeiro in October.

Coming into the fight, Charles Oliveira had an impressive overall record of 35-11 with a 2-3 record over his last five bouts, the roughest stretch of his 18-year career. Whereas Mateusz Gamrot has been on the rise with a 4-1 record over his last five bouts, with statement wins over the likes of Rafael Faziev and L’udovit Klein, extending his record to 25-3.

Many fans wondered if we were witnessing the end of Oliveira’s career leading up to this fight after he was brutally knocked out by Ilia Topuria in the first round and went the distance with Michael Chandler, who many thought he should have easily finished.

With Gamrot on the rise as the No. 8 ranked lightweight in the world, he looked to upset the No. 4 ranked Oliveira in front of his hometown crowd in Brazil. Gamrot made no hesitation in showing his hunger to win as he immediately sprinted toward the octagon during his walkout — but little did he know he was running straight into fire.

Charles Oliveira has remained flawless with a 17-0 record when fighting in his home country of Brazil and looked to extend that on Saturday night after many people began to doubt the future of his MMA career.

As the fight started, the two exchanged back-and-forth shots which had the crowd going wild. After the first round it looked like Olivera was up 1-0. Round two started off similarly until Charles was able to successfully land a takedown on Gamrot, where he would now be in Charles world.

Oliveira locked in a perfect rear-naked choke where there would be no escape. Gamrot struggled until he couldn’t anymore and tapped out halfway through round two. With that finish, it became Charles 22nd submission win in his career, the most in UFC History.

The crowd exploded as Charles Oliveira extended his win streak to 18-0 in Brazil, and he immediately jumped over the cage and ran into the crowd to celebrate with all his supporters. When he arrived back in the octagon, Charles took the microphone and made no hesitation to express his feelings by calling out a future opponent.

Michael Bisping asked him “What does this mean to you?” Charles Oliveira responded “I’m trying to hold back the tears right now. This is all for you guys, this is not about money, fame, status, or anything. Screw it, this is Brazil.”

When Charles was asked who he wants to fight next, he states “Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, BMF, let’s make it happen.”

This would be a Fight of the Year candidate if UFC President Dana White agrees to schedule this matchup sometime next year. There is no better way to please UFC fans than to have two of the biggest names in the sport going head-to-head for the BMF Title belt.

Could we potentially see this booked for the White House card next year? As of now, Max Holloway is still recovering from an Injury, so we will have to wait and see how this develops.

As for Mateusz Gamrot, it looks like he still has a long way to go before he gets a title shot.

Broncos Improve to 8-2 with Sloppy Win over Raiders on TNF

Coming into this game, many people across the NFL world viewed this as an easy win for the Denver Broncos. Considering they have the best defense in the NFL and were going up against a struggling Geno Smith-led Raiders offense at home, however, it ended up being one of the sloppiest prime time games I can remember.

The Raiders actually began the game well, opening the night by forcing a quick three-and-out from the Denver offense. Following the punt, the Raiders capitalized by marching down the field for a quick touchdown score on a 4-yard rushing touchdown by rookie running back Ashton Jeanty — his fourth rushing touchdown on the year.

It seemed as if this could be a great night for the Raiders offense, but it only went downhill from there. The first quarter touchdown drive would be their only points for the entire game after countless mistakes. Such as a crucial missed field goal by kicker Daniel Carlson, bad pass protection and the Broncos defense looking like the 85’ Bears.

As bad as the Las Vegas offense looked, Bo Nix and the Broncos offense looked just as bad, if not worse. They were shut out in the first quarter, managing only two offensive possessions that both resulted in quick three-and-outs. Maxx Crosby and the Raiders defensive line played exceptionally well, constantly pressuring Nix and keeping him uncomfortable in the pocket.

The second quarter was not much better for Denver as they started off with back-to-back possessions leading to punts. The home crowd grew restless, and loud boos echoed throughout the stadium. It looked like Bo Nix was lost out there and that the Broncos might drop a huge game to the underdogs. Then they decided to step it up a bit.

The following possession the Raiders would end up going for it on fourth down in Denver territory but would be stopped after a sack by Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga, who came in unblocked off the edge with a safety blitz. A fantastic play call by head coach Sean Payton.

This gave Denver some momentum as they proceeded to march down the field for a five-play, 53-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Nix touchdown pass to rookie receiver Troy Franklin. However, on the following possession, Nix tried to target Franklin again but the ball would end up being intercepted after it went right through his hands. The Raiders could not capitalize on this opportunity and the teams went to half tied 7-7.

Up to this point, Bo Nix and Geno Smith couldn’t get anything going and that trend continued for the remainder of the game. Denver had an opportunity to take a three-point lead when they decided to let Will Lutz go out there to attempt a 59-yard field goal. This was a head scratching decision considering the windy conditions. Instead of going for it on 4th-and-6, Lutz lined up to kick the field goal; it had the accuracy but not the distance, falling just short of the uprights to keep the score tied at 7–7.

The Broncos would get the ball right back when Geno Smith threw his 12th interception on the year, the most in the NFL. But once again, it would be another three-and-out for Denver. The biggest play of the game came with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, when the Broncos special teams unit blocked a punt, setting themselves up for a 32-yard field goal to take the 10-7 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Geno Smith was banged up while scrambling for a first down. He came in and out of the game, playing through pain, which would not help the Raiders offensive struggles.

Just when it seemed like it might be over, Bo Nix would throw his second interception of the night on a questionable deep ball thrown into double coverage to Troy Franklin once again with seven minutes remaining. This set up Geno Smith for a potential game-winning drive. The Raiders would get into Denver territory where they had a chance to tie the game, but Daniel Carlson would go on to miss a 48-yard field goal attempt which essentially put the game to rest.

Bo Nix finished his night going 16-for-28 with 150 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Geno Smith went 16-for-26 with 143 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The Denver Broncos have now won their seventh straight game to improve to 8-2 on the year, but this is not a win to celebrate, as it was their worst offensive game of the year. The Raiders now fall to 2-7, with their playoff hopes over by week 10.

Knicks Extend Win Streak to 3 With Win Over Rival Wolves

The New York Knicks took care of business once again last night in their 137-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The new rivalry was formed after last year’s blockbuster in-season trade, with New York receiving Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo. Last night we got to see those three pieces put on a show at Madison Square Garden.

Julius Randle was determined to play well against his former team, he had a complicated relationship with the fans during his time in New York but has since found a new home with the Timberwolves. Randle wasted no time, opening the game by hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key to give Minnesota the 3-0 lead. He went on to score 18 points in the first half with 9 of them coming from behind the arc. Randle finished his night with 32 points and five rebounds, leading all scorers.

It didn’t stop there. The other key piece in the trade, Donte DiVincenzo, was red-hot from three, scoring 12 first half points, all of them being three-pointers. He continued to score in the second half and ended his night with 21 points. DiVincenzo looks comfortable in his new role as the starting point guard for Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 10 points and five rebounds at the half and finished his night with a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double — his seventh double-double already this season.

The game was back and forth, providing fans with an exciting first half where the Timberwolves found themselves up 58-54. However, this would all change as the Knicks once again made halftime adjustments and took control in the third quarter, where they would score 40 points led by the captain himself, Jalen Brunson. New York entered the fourth quarter up 94-86 and kept their foot on the pedal the rest of the way.

Jalen Brunson was relatively quiet in the first half but caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 12 points to get the Garden crowd on its feet. He went on to finish the night with 23 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds — a near triple-double to go along with a win. As good as Brunson played, the game ball belongs to OG Anunoby.

Ever since the Knicks acquired Anunoby in a trade with the Toronto Raptors, he has been the teams biggest X-factor. The elite defense he provides along with the evolution of his offensive game has allowed the team to flourish. Anunoby finished his night as the Knicks leading scorer with 25 points, along with an impressive eight rebounds and two steals. When the Knicks are firing on all cylinders there are very few teams that can hang with them. Getting the win last night over the rival Timberwolves will surely help carry their momentum going forward.

The Knicks face off against the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night, where they will look to extend their win streak to 4 games.

Raiders Send Jakobi Meyers to Jaguars at the Trade Deadline

The Las Vegas Raiders have traded veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2026 fourth-round and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

This move comes as no surprise considering Meyers was looking for a contract extension last offseason, which Las Vegas was reluctant to give him. Instead, the Raiders signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract and it has not gone according to plan.

Las Vegas has a 2-6 record and Geno Smith is currently leading the NFL with 11 interceptions and has one of the lowest quarterback ratings in the league. With poor quarterback play, Jakobi Meyers has had very little opportunity to make an impact and is having statistically the worst season of his career.

Through seven games, Meyers has 352 receiving yards on 33 receptions and has yet to score a touchdown this season. Due to Geno Smith struggling to get the ball in Jakobi’s hands, he only has a combined 124 yards over his last four games and has yet to break 100 receiving yards in a single game this year, but expect this to change after the trade.

Meyers now gets to play alongside young star wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr in Jacksonville, with the former number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence throwing him the ball, a huge upgrade. This trade is notable considering the Raiders and Jaguars faced off in a week 9 matchup just a few days prior. Jacksonville won the game in a nail-biter to improve to 5-3 on the season and has now acquired Las Vegas’s best receiver.

Keep an eye on the Jaguars going forward as they are currently in the AFC playoff race and have added another weapon to the roster. As for the Raiders, I like the trade; stock up on draft picks and shift focus towards the 2026 season, where you can continue to add young talent as they already have with rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and second-year superstar tight end Brock Bowers.