The Las Vegas Raiders are starting to build up some hype ahead of the 2025 season. No team upgraded as much at head coach and quarterback the way the Raiders did this offseason.
While opinions are mixed on Geno Smith, he's a massive upgrade over the Gardner Minshew-Aidan O'Connell combo from last season. Smith knows that the Raiders aren't given a lot of respect in the media, but he's OK with that.
"I'm always the guy that I believe the game gets settled between the white lines on game day," Smith said on NFL Network's "Inside Training Camp Live." "But from my vantage point, we've got a really, really good team. I don't know if we'll shock anyone inside of this building, but maybe shock some outsiders. But it's good, like let them sleep. I don't want them to see us coming. We're just working in the shadows right now, getting our game right, and when it's time to go in those bright lights, I think we'll be ready."
Chris Broussard Not Buying Raiders and Smith
Smith is great at dropping quotes, but some analysts aren't convinced. Fox Sports' Chris Broussard had some harsh words for the Raiders and Smith in response to his comments.
"Geno, I am not sleeping on you, I'm comatose!" Broussard exclaimed on "First Things First." "I am dead to the world when it comes to the Raiders. ... Can we stop it with the Raiders this, the Raiders that? Really? You're the worst team in your division."
Are Raiders That Bad?
It's easy to dismiss the Raiders, considering they were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, but this is a very different team. Pete Carroll is a massive upgrade at head coach over Antonio Pierce, and the team has upgraded in several other ways.
It might be too early to proclaim real contenders to win the AFC West, but they are headed in the right direction. There's a solid chance they could have a better record than the Los Angeles Chargers or Denver Broncos at the end of the season, despite what Broussard had to say.
