Offseason excitement is building for the Las Vegas Raiders and Pete Carroll, with NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks recently offering significant praise.
For the first time in a long while, it can be argued that the Raiders are becoming a respectable organization. Significant change is flowing from the Silver and Black. With Tom Brady joining the ownership group and John Spytek coming on board as the general manager, the team is undergoing a transformation. Additionally, Pete Carroll’s appointment as head coach is a crucial element in resetting the culture in Sin City.
Pete Carroll is implementing a proven strategy for the Raiders
All of the corresponding moves made by this regime are following a blueprint that previously worked with the Seattle Seahawks. You build your roster from within, using the NFL draft and you don’t overpay for average talent in free agency. Another aspect that led to success in Seattle for Carroll was the run game—that was addressed with Ashton Jeanty, who was arguably the best offensive player from this year’s rookie class.
Finally, the most unstable position on the Raiders roster was finally fastened. Whether you like Geno Smith or not, he is the best quarterback on the roster since Rich Gannon, possibly excluding Derek Carr.
While no one is claiming that the Raiders will instantly transform into Super Bowl contenders, it seems that the era of double-digit losses on their record may be coming to an end. In fact, that’s precisely what Brooks was aiming for when describing his 2025 outlook for Las Vegas. “The Raiders could emerge as a dark-horse playoff contender thanks to Carroll’s experience and expertise,” Brooks wrote. “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.”
Additionally, Brooks noted that Carroll has historically led teams to quick turnarounds. We’ve seen such results throughout both his career in the professional ranks and on the collegiate side. Will the Raiders be the next to benefit from this? Carroll has assembled an intriguing blend of coaches, rookies, and veterans that points to another rapid change. Most importantly, though, the Raiders now have a head coach who won’t be in over his head on game day.
Championship-level experience is something that has eluded the Silver and Black for far too long. Perhaps Brooks is right.
*Top Photo: Getty Images