If Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie has himself a strong 2016 NFL Draft, comes away from the rookie selection process three days from now with one or two clear starters at positions of need, like along the interior of the defensive line or at corner, there's no telling what Raider Nation will do. The Raiders' loyal and oftentimes overzealous fanbase has already enjoyed more optimism this offseason thanks to McKenzie's moves - pulling the team out of salary cap hell and stocking the roster with a base of potentially elite talent, topped by quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end/linebacker Khalil Mack - than in any year over the past decade.
And Raider Nation, already one of the most fervent, fiery fanbases in all of sports, has in turn shown its appreciation via its members' hearts, minds and wallets.
The Raiders are, for the first time in franchise history, on the verge of selling out their season tickets.
"We're excited as hell," Raiders owner Mark Davis said recently. "Again, we've got the greatest fans in the world. The Raider Nation is strong."
Talk of Las Vegas and San Antonio relocation has resurfaced again for Davis' Raiders, at the same time as Los Angeles has cooled. With the Raiders remaining in Oakland for the 2016 NFL season on yet another one-year lease at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum after Davis came in last in the three-team derby to make the jump to SoCal, the future home of the franchise will continue to be a hot topic of conversation throughout the upcoming campaign and next season.
Davis has further one-year options for 2017 and 2018, but all signs continue to point to a potential move, as Davis is expected to meet with the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee this week, though he's been unwilling to confirm as much.
But with players like Mack, Amari Cooper, a rejuvenated Michael Crabtree and a (finally) on-the-right-track Aldon Smith, along with a long-term face of the franchise in Carr, Raider Nation is looking a bright football future square in the face.
Whether the willingness of the denizens of the Black Hole to fork over piles of cash in exchange for premium seating arrangements on Raiders game day sways Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and the rest of the citiy's decision-makers into pooling a large chunk of their own resources to help fund the stadium Davis so desperately desires remains to be seen.
But there's nothing more lucrative than a winning team. And it sure looks like McKenzie and second-year head coach Jack Del Rio are about to get the silver and black back to its once winning, possibly even dominant ways.
