Raiders seen as one of biggest winners of 2025 offseason

The Las Vegas Raiders look ready to put their long-standing struggles behind them at last.

New head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek are now taking charge, and minority owner Tom Brady amongst a slew of others guarantee that ownership now has football sense and financial stability. On the field, the Raiders made a big trade for quarterback Geno Smith in March, while sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty should immediately improve what was a league-worst rushing attack in 2024. This year’s rendition of the Silver and Black look more balanced than recent years, with the hopes of significant contributions from new sources carrying them over the top.

It appears that pundits also believe that the Raiders are on the verge of something special.

One analyst has hyped the Raiders as one of the offseason’s biggest teams.

NFL analyst Bucky Brooks put up five teams that won the offseason, and the Raiders were one of the teams that made the cut.

“The Raiders’ return to respectability is underway under head coach Pete Carroll. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion has installed a title-caliber blueprint that should make the Silver and Black competitive in his first season on the job,” wrote Brooks. “By reuniting Carroll with former Seahawks QB Geno Smith to help usher in a new culture, Las Vegas has jump-started the process with an underrated veteran who has a Pro Bowl pedigree. As rookie first-rounder Ashton Jeanty and budding superstar Brock Bowers settle into their roles as the designated playmakers in Chip Kelly’s offense, the Raiders can overwhelm opponents with an approach that repeatedly puts the ball in the hands of their best players in prime positions.

“On defense, the return of coordinator Patrick Graham and top defenders Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins (if healthy) could help the Raiders challenge opponents with a fast-paced see ball, get ball scheme. Given Carroll’s history of producing quick turnarounds as a team leader, the squad’s mix of teachers and talent could lead to impressive results in his first season.”

Are the expectations being placed on the Raiders realistic?

Brooks goes on to say that playoffs are a realistic possibility for the Raiders, which would be a heavy leap from the four-win outfit of last season.

“The Raiders could emerge as a dark-horse playoff contender thanks to Carroll’s experience and expertise. The 73-year-old coach knows how to put together winning game plans, and his roster features enough talent to chalk up nine-plus wins,” Brooks summarized.

The Raiders are still looking for improvements as training camp appears on the horizon. The team signed linebacker Germaine Pratt during last week’s minicamp and brought in cornerback Shaquill Griffin for a visit, suggesting that the roster is not yet set in stone. However, the Raiders have already made improvements where they needed them most, from head coach to quarterback to running back.

The NFL is only a few months away from finding out if the hype surrounding the Raiders can translate to a jump in the standings.