Pete Carroll turns 74 in September but nobody would know it by reading his energy.
Carroll is back in coaching after a year away, taking over a Raiders’ operation with 33 losses and three head coaches since 2022.
Changes Carroll wanted implemented were set in motion quickly. The No. 6 overall draft pick is expected to bring additional firepower to orchestrate a turnaround. Based on 2024 production, there are many miles to be traveled.
The Raiders were dead last in the NFL in rushing at 79.8 yards per game and 27th in total offense. They peaked in Week 2 with 26 points at Baltimore in a three-point victory and never scored more than 25 (Week 17) the rest of the season.
Carroll traded for his old quarterback in Seattle, 34-year-old Geno Smith, and brought in 33-year-old running back Raheem Mostert in a continuation of the age-is-no-factor flex.
Building blocks at the ready include pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who signed an extension with the Raiders upon Carroll’s arrival, and tight end Brock Bowers.
There aren’t many more on their level because of a poor record in the draft, which Carroll and first-year general manager John Spytek, the third primary personnel man in Las Vegas in three seasons, need to change immediately.
–Team needs
Edge rusher: Crosby was never fully healthy last season and still led the team with 7.5 sacks on a bad ankle before he was shut down with the team in the midst of a 10-game losing streak that spanned all of October, November and two weeks in December. Signing DT Christian Wilkins to a $100 million contract last spring didn’t bring the immediate impact expected. Adding another versatile edge defender matches the track record of Carroll and Spytek, who was with the line-heavy Buccaneers the past 10 years. Carroll is fond of power defensive ends who can kick inside — recall Michael Bennett, for example — and might turn to another Texas A&M product in Shemar Stewart if Las Vegas decides to move down.
Wide receiver: A strong possibility exists the Raiders will have their choice of non-QB skill-position players at No. 6. The WR room is a ghost town beyond Jakobi Meyers and speed demon Tre Tucker. Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Matthew Golden (Texas) are good fits for different reasons. If the Raiders believe McMillan can operate inside on occasion — he was in the slot almost 25 percent of the time for the Wildcats — they could decide to play the mismatch card to further amplify the effectiveness of star TE Bowers. Carroll and Spytek both come from franchises who thrived when the slot receivers were productive, but also valued size outside in Mike Evans (Buccaneers) and DK Metcalf (Seahawks). Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will know all there is to know about Ohio State prospect Emeka Egbuka after calling plays for the Buckeyes last season, and Carroll did just fine in his final draft with Seattle taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20th overall).
Running back: Other than the infamous goal line decision that wound up in Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler’s hands, you can almost always count on Carroll to lead with the ground game. Mostert was a scoring machine in Miami and might have some life left, but if 30 is the edge of the cliff for running backs, where are the Raiders with a 33-year-old lead back? A committee is much more likely and the Raiders won’t leave the draft room at the end of the seventh round without a running back — or two. Speaking of Kelly, he’ll have all the intel on top-50 backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.
–Best prospect fits
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
WR Matthew Golden, Texas
DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 9
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 6, 6
2: 5, 37
3: 4, 68
4: 6, 108
5: 5, 143
6: 4, 180
6: 37, 213 (Compensatory selection)
6: 39, 215 (Compensatory selection)
7: 6, 222
–History Lesson
–The franchise last had the No. 6 pick in 1988 and drafted Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown.
–Four of the Raiders’ past seven top draft picks were offensive or defensive linemen.
–Crosby was the 106th overall pick in 2019.
–Field Level Media
Comments