Pete Carroll is the new head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. A coach with a history of winning takes over a team with a history of losing. Does Carroll’s arrival signal a turning point in the franchise or just another name to add to the list for a franchise that has had five coaches in five years? Can Carroll add the right pieces to this offense and make it fantasy-relevant? We dive into everything that is the Silver and Black.
Pete Carroll’s Coaching History
Pete Carroll comes to Las Vegas with a ton of experience. After a long and successful college career, he came into the NFL and led the Seattle Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances with one win. He only had three seasons with a losing record and made the playoffs in 10 out of his 14 years of coaching. The Raiders have gone through some recent changes including adding Tom Brady to ownership. Carroll’s leadership and history are why he is back in the NFL after taking only a year off. He should have an open wallet and roster control to build a team his way and get the black and gold back to the standard that they were known for in the 70’s and 80’s.
Passing Attack
The biggest question that Pete Carroll and the Raiders will have to answer is who will be under center to start the 2025 season. Aidan O’Connell has been a mixed bag in his two years of on-and-off starting. Carroll isn’t afraid to make a bold move and start a later-round draft pick. Just look at Russell Wilson starting after the Seahawks paid big money to Matt Flynn.
The next question is will the Raiders be a run-first team or a pass-friendly one? Looking at Carroll’s time in Seattle he seemed to adjust. Most years he was a very run-heavy team. Despite that Russell Wilson had very good fantasy years finishing as a top 10 fantasy quarterback in eight straight years.
Whoever is the quarterback for Carroll’s Raiders will have to be efficient. The Raiders will probably be run heavy so capitalizing on the passing attempts given is key. Carroll does rely on his quarterback in tough situations and around the goal line, just look at the Super Bowl loss.
Running Attack
So Carroll wants to run the ball. But who will be doing that? Zamir White wasn’t it. Alexander Mattison wasn’t it. Sincere McCormick wasn’t it. Despite all of them having some fantasy relevant weeks. The Raiders struggled to find a guy all of 2024 after letting their previous workhorse, Josh Jacobs leave in free agency. When you don’t have a single rusher over 500 yards that’s a bad sign.
So the Raiders and Carroll will have to find that back in the offseason. Could be from the draft but this isn’t a great class for that. It could be in free agency but they will likely be in a bidding war with other needy teams.
Carroll wants a bruiser. He had success with Marshawn Lynch who was 5’11 215 lbs. His punishing running style earned him the nickname Beast Mode. Carroll also drafted Kenneth Walker who has a similar running style to Lynch. Carroll will probably be looking for his new Beast Mode. Whoever that is will get the chance to have the ball in his hands 275+ times.
Reason for doubt
So many holes to fill. The Raiders need help at the skill positions. Outside of tight-end Brock Bowers, they lack another fantasy-relevant player. Bowers was a star in his rookie year. The Raiders traded away Davante Adams and relied on Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, and DJ Turner to lead the wide receiver room. So by my count, the Raiders need a new quarterback, running back alpha wide receiver, and a solid role player wide receiver. Meyers is good but not an alpha. He’s a solid number two but functions better in the slot.
The Raiders have all of their picks and an extra 3rd from the New York Jets in the Adams trade. Its barely enough picks to cover all of the offensive skill position needs let alone the defensive side of the ball and the O-line. There are some interesting trade pieces including stud defensive end Maxx Crosby but trading them might hurt more than it helps. It might be a year or two till we see the full potential of what Carroll can do in the desert.
Reason for Hope
History of winning. Carroll won at U.S.C. He won in Seattle. Everywhere he has gone he has built a winning team. That is what the Raiders are banking on with him. Carroll isn’t afraid to make bold roster moves and get the most out of his players. He has a strong history of scouting talent on both sides of the ball and being a coach that players want to play with. The Raiders have struggled for a long time. Owner Mark Davis is trying to recapture what his father built in the 80’s.
With Tom Brady now part of ownership and seemingly having a bigger role with the team they took the sure path vs the flashy upside. Carroll brings them the strongest pedigree of coaching that was available outside of Bill Belichick. It may take a year or two but Carroll should have the Raiders in the playoff hunt sooner rather than later and hopefully fighting for division and Super Bowl crowns.
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