ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Las Vegas entered 2024 with a lot of hope, entering the season with a brand new head coach in Antonio Pierce and a newly signed quarterback, Gardner Minshew. The hope would quickly disappear after they suffered several injuries and failed to live up to the hype they had before the season. The Raiders would go 4-13, having one of the worst records in the league, and would end up benching Minshew during the season. The biggest news of the season was the firing of Pierce, who took over as interim head coach in 2023 before being hired in 2024, but would only last one year for the Raiders.
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The Raiders entered the offseason knowing they would need a brand new culture and to rebuild a weaker roster. Enter Pete Carroll, newly hired 73-year-old head coach and Super Bowl champion. Las Vegas would bring in Carroll, who had previously coached the Seattle Seahawks and had a 137-89-1 record with the team before parting ways with them before the 2024 season. Carroll brings a winning culture to the Raiders that they have not had for years, and their first move was trading for quarterback Geno Smith from the Seahawks, whom Carroll had previously coached before leaving Seattle.
Smith finally brings some stability to the offense, which had quarterback woes all of last season, pairing him up with tight end Brock Bowers, who set a record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end with 1,194. The Raiders also extended star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to a three-year $106.5 million extension, keeping him with the team until 2029. They also signed several free agents, including safety Jeremy Chinn, linebackers Devin White and Germaine Pratt, to improve their defense. They signed guard Alex Cappa, running back Raheem Mostert and tight end Ian Thomas to help their offense.
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Heading into the NFL draft, the Raiders held the sixth overall pick and chose running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State University, who was the runner-up in the Heisman voting this last college football season. Jeanty is one of the most anticipated running back prospects of all time after rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. The Raiders would also make some big selections in the draft, taking wide receiver Jack Bech, cornerback Darien Porter and guard Caleb Rogers in the second and third rounds.
With a much-improved roster, the Raiders enter 2025 with a lot to prove, playing in one of the toughest divisions in football. The Raiders also have the 16th most challenging schedule in the NFL next season, according to Fox Sports, opening their season vs the New England Patriots in New England. The Raiders’ key matchups will come against their division rivals, the Chiefs, Chargers, and Bronco, playing each of them twice throughout the regular season. The Raiders also have key matchups vs the Commanders in week three and the Eagles in week 15.
Las Vegas will have a lot to prove with its reshaped roster in 2025, having only +12000 odds of winning the Super Bowl and +5000 of winning the AFC Championship. The Raiders open their season as +3-point underdogs against the Patriots and are only favored in four games this season.
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