The Las Vegas Raiders are rolling into the 2025 NFL offseason with a fresh vibe under new head coach Pete Carroll, but there’s one big question still hanging over the team. According to NFL expert Jeffri Chadiha, that question revolves around Carroll himself-and it’s all about how he’ll shape the Raiders’ identity.
With the NFL Draft just weeks away on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the focus is sharpening on whether Carroll can bring his signature run-heavy style to a squad that’s been scrambling for consistency. Let’s unpack why this Pete-centric puzzle is the talk of Raider Nation.
Chadiha, writing for NFL.com, didn’t mince words about what makes Carroll tick. “Anybody who’s followed Carroll’s career as a head coach knows three things will never change: 1) his unbridled enthusiasm, 2) his relentless chomping of chewing gum, and 3) his desire to utilize a punishing running game,” he said.
That last bit is where the Raiders’ biggest “to-do” comes into play. Last season, their ground game was the NFL’s weakest, averaging a measly 77.9 yards per game. Injuries to backs like Zamir White (groin) and Sincere McCormick (ankle) didn’t help, leaving the team limping-literally-into 2025.
Carroll’s next Big Challenge Unveiled
Carroll’s track record screams run-first football. In Seattle, his Seahawks topped the league in rushing yards six times between 2012 and 2019, leaning on beasts like Marshawn Lynch. Now in Vegas, he’s got a shiny new GM in John Spytek, over $108 million in cap space, and the No. 6 draft pick to play with.
Chadiha sees the draft as a golden ticket to fix this, pointing to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty as a popular mock-draft pick. Jeanty’s a bruiser who could fit Carroll’s mold, but the draft’s deep at running back-think Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins-giving the Raiders options if they wait past round one.
The Raiders did snag Raheem Mostert in free agency, a speedster who hit 1,000 yards with Miami in 2024. But one back doesn’t make a run game, especially with Carroll’s vision in mind. “He wants to have a strong run game to take pressure off quarterback Geno Smith,” Chadiha noted, tying it to Carroll’s reunion with his former Seahawks QB. Smith’s got the keys to the offense, and a legit ground attack could keep defenses honest while he finds All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers.
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