The Las Vegas Raiders have been in a rebuild for almost 20 years now. Well, that was the last time they won a playoff game. They haven't been able to consistently make the postseason, though, and over a 20-year span, that's an issue.
In 2024, they were significantly worse than in 2023, and the record proves that. That culture that Antonio Pierce built slowly started to fade, and the coaching decisions by him and his staff started to plunder the team early on in the year. The Raiders had a decent roster, but a bad coaching staff with a bad scheme on offense, paired with bad QB play and terrible injuries, plagued the Raiders. And let's not forget about the offensive line being incredibly bad, too.
That being said, there is definitely a way they can improve in 2025. They have brought in a more than competent coaching staff with former Super Bowl-winning head coach Pete Carroll, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, and new general manager John Spytek, who won a Super Bowl as the assistant GM with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a successful 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders could be headed in the right direction. And, Pete Carroll thinks they won't waste any time. He said that during his introductory press conference, and he's doubled down on it again.
“I’m trying to take this far as we can as soon as I possibly can. Why would we do anything but that? I’m not looking for a grace period or something cushy [like], ‘Give me a few years to get things going.' I don’t think that way at all.”
And, while a lot of that is coach speak -- saying whatever sounds right because why would he say the opposite -- Carroll does actually believe what he is saying. And, if they address the things they need to address this offseason, whether it be in free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft, they could see themselves competing for that wild card spot in the AFC West, along with the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.
But, that's if they get this offseason right. They've gotten it right so far with the coaching staff, but there are still a lot of long months ahead.
