The Las Vegas Raiders have put most of their eggs in one basket. With Tom Brady stepping in as a minority owner, the team made a flurry of offseason moves to build a competitive roster they believe can push for a playoff spot in the 2025 season.
The two biggest moves, by far, were hiring Pete Carroll as head coach and bringing in his former quarterback, Geno Smith. It’s a major upgrade at both spots and has sparked a wave of optimism among Raiders fans. It’s also given Carroll a serious boost in confidence.
Pete Carroll Makes Claim About Las Vegas Raiders’ Goals
Back in 2022, the Seattle Seahawks moved on from Russell Wilson after more than a decade with the franchise. With the quarterback situation in flux, Carroll named Smith the starter.
Over Carroll’s final two seasons in Seattle, the duo found moderate success, winning nine games each year and making a playoff appearance in 2022. Now, just two years after their last game together, the Raiders are reuniting the pair in Vegas.
Carroll is all in on the Raiders’ new identity. Speaking at Raiders media day, he made it clear that the expectations for 2025 are sky-high.
Jeremy Bergman from Around the NFL shared the quote. He posted Carroll’s comments on X: “A lot of expectations for us. We’re going for it. We’re not holding back. We’re not looking for anyone to give us a grace period or any of that kind of stuff. That’s not how we’re going about this. We’re going to get it right now.”
Pete Carroll at Raiders media day: “A lot of expectations for us. We’re going for it. We’re not holding back. We’re not looking for anyone to give us a grace period or any of that kind of stuff. That’s not how we’re going about this. We’re going to get it right now.”
— Jeremy Bergman (@JABergman) June 9, 2025
The AFC West is loaded. Three teams from the division made the playoffs last season, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who’ve reached the past three Super Bowls. The competition is going to be brutal, but Carroll believes in his squad.
After a four-win campaign in 2024, a playoff push would be a dramatic turnaround for Las Vegas. But the pieces are in place. Maxx Crosby is back after re-signing, leading the defense. On offense, Smith is under center and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty could be a breakout star.
Still, the final word on the Raiders’ high-risk offseason won’t come from headlines or hype. It’ll come from what happens on the field.
