There might not be a team in the entire NFL that went through as much upheaval as the Las Vegas Raiders. With NFL legend and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady assuming an ownership role with the franchise, they went all-in during the offseason to build a playoff-caliber roster.
The employment of Pete Carroll as a stabilizing voice at the head coach spot was arguably the biggest move. But extending Maxx Crosby, adding Geno Smith via trade, and drafting Ashton Jeanty made their intentions crystal clear. With so many moving parts, what is the most intriguing part of a new dawn in Las Vegas?
What Should Fans Look for With the Las Vegas Raiders?
PFSN wasn’t very kind to Las Vegas for the moves they made throughout the summer. Their free agency haul, with Geno Smith front and center, was given a D+ grade, as he finished 15th on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
Additionally, the trade-off between Alex Cappa and Andre James might not be a needle mover. However, the biggest loss came in the secondary, where the Raiders parted ways with Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, as well as Tre’von Moehrig.
Their draft might have gone better, especially with a smash-hit pick like Ashton Jeanty, but for a team that wants to compete now, their success rests mainly in the hands of a new quarterback and coach.
However, it is a pair that is far too familiar with each other. After the Russell Wilson era came to an end in Seattle. Carroll, their head coach at the time, named Smith the starter for week one.
In his two seasons alongside Carroll, the Seahawks finished 9-8 both times, with a playoff appearance in 2023 ending in a Wild Card Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers. This time around, the expectations and the situations are vastly different for the coach-QB combo.
And Jacob Infante believes their second go-round is the main thing for fans to focus on as the season draws closer. Their over-under of 6.5 suggests that the Raiders making the playoffs isn’t a likely scenario, despite their best efforts to establish otherwise.
“He gave me an opportunity when not many people would have.”@GenoSmith3 and @PeteCarroll are bringing their bond to Vegas. 🩶 @Raiders pic.twitter.com/JwQWbkueiH
— NFL (@NFL) April 9, 2025
Still, Infante believes the Carroll system might be fascinating to watch, especially with an eye for the future. “Las Vegas likely won’t be a playoff team this year, but this minicamp will show how well Carroll’s system translates to a roster that still needs a few more pieces.”
Instead, he believes the 2025 season could serve as a preamble to a 2026 season where a more seasoned, mature roster has a better chance to take that next step forward.