Raiders Team Notes

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Find out what's going on with the Las Vegas Raiders.

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Brock Bowers​

Backups: Michael Mayer, Justin Shorter​

Free agents: Harrison Bryant​

Bowers broke all kinds of records as a rookie while leading all tight ends in receiving. This offense went through him. Mayer was away from the team a good portion of the season dealing with personal issues. He returned eventually and was a nice complementary piece, both as a blocker and a receiver.

Condition: Strong​

Bowers is the best tight end in football. Mayer can be a decent number two, but that appears to be the best we can expect from him. Which may be enough. Though with Harrison Bryant headed for free agency, they will likely bring in someone to compete to replace him at the third tight end spot.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/06/assessing-raiders-need-at-tight-end-free-agency/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

For the better part of the past eight years Joe Woods has been an NFL Defensive Coordinator. But his career started as a defensive backs coach and among his early NFL jobs was with the Raiders. Now he’s back with the Raiders, given the title of defensive pass game coordinator.

Former #Saints DC Joe Woods is joining Pete Carroll’s #Raiders staff as defensive pass-game coordinator, per source.

Woods, a two-time defensive coordinator, is traveling to Las Vegas today. pic.twitter.com/6yfme5hFaP

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 6, 2025

Woods was the DC in New Orleans the past two seasons under Dennis Allen. It was under Allen in 2014 that Woods worked for the Raiders. And so he has twice seen Allen get fired midseason and had to move on.

Between his time with the Raiders and the Saints, Woods was a DB coach and then defensive coordinator in Denver, then defensive passing game coordinator in San Francisco while Robert Saleh was the DC and the 49ers made the Super Bowl that year.

After that, Woods was named DC in Cleveland (2020-22) before heading to the Saints in 2023.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...-db-coach-defensive-passing-game-coordinator/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

The Raiders coaching staff is filling up. There are still a lot of positions that have either not been filled or not reported yet. And, of course, there are some coaches who are still under contract, but who could still be let go should they add someone new at their position.

So, let’s gather them all into a list to see who is in place so far.

Head coach — Pete Carroll

Offense​

Offensive Coordinator — Chip Kelly

Offensive line coach — Brennan Carroll

Quarterback coach — Greg Olson

Running backs coach — Deland McCullough

Wide receivers coach — Chris Beatty

Defense​

Defensive coordinator — Patrick Graham (retained)

Defensive pass game coordinator — Joe Woods

Defensive line coach — Rob Leonard (retained)

Linebackers coach — John Glenn

Defensive assistant — Beyah Rasool

Special teams​

Special teams coordinator — Tom McMahon (retained)

Other news:​

Most coaches who we know will not be back, the team has hired their replacement. We know cornerbacks coach Ricky Manning Jr and safeties coach Gerald Alexander will not return, but we don’t yet know who their replacements will be.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/06/raiders-coaching-staff-hires-tracker/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Friday night the NFL Honors led out with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. To the surprise of no one, Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels took home the award. But he wasn’t a unanimous selection. One other received a vote — Raiders TE Brock Bowers.

Of the 50 votes for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels received 49 of them. The other first place vote went to Brock Bowers.

Here’s the full voting results:

The voting for the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year selected by The Associated Press in balloting by a nationwide panel of media:
(Voting is on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis)
Jayden Daniels, Washington:49-1-0-0-0: 495
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas: 1-32-11-5-1: 214
Bo Nix, Denver:…

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) February 7, 2025

Daniels had a tremendous season and was deserving of this award. He led the Commanders to the playoffs and even won a playoff game. But Bowers deserved recognition for his historic season.

The main reason Bowers didn’t stand a chance against Daniels was his position. Despite Bowers breaking a rookie tight end record that stood for six decades, despite setting the rookie receptions record…twice, and despite setting a new Raiders franchise receptions record (112), a tight end will always take a backseat to an elite quarterback.

Bowers did, lead the way in second place votes, getting 32 — 17 more than Broncos QB Bo Nix who also led his team to the playoffs. No one else was even in the conversation.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...ayden-daniels-brock-bowers-first-place-votes/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

After several years of near misses, Eric Allen has finally broken through. The six-time Pro Bowl cornerback has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025.

Allen played the final four years of his 14-year career with the Raiders. He revived his career in those years, collecting 16 interceptions and 46 pass breakups including four playoff games.

Allen made six Pro Bowls over his career, including one All Pro. All happened while with the Eagles and Saints.

The full class is as follows:

DE Jared Allen
WR Sterling Sharpe
CB Eric Allen
TE Antonio Gates

Allen had already established himself as one of the best in league history before he joined the Raiders. But he didn’t just hang around in his four season in Oakland. He added 15 more interceptions in his mid-thirties with the Raiders, including returning three for touchdowns in 2000 at the age of 35.

He was a key part of the Raiders during their last glory years of the late 90s and early 2000s. His success in Silver & Black cemented his legacy and ultimately pushed him to immortal status in Canton.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...c-allen-pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-2025/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ offensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze​

Backups: Thayer Munford, Dalton Wagner, Gottlieb Ayedze​

Free agents: Andrus Peat​

Miller had a down season overall. Though there’s plenty to suggest that had a lot to do with the poor coaching and scheme change. Glaze was the team’s third round rookie. He took over for the injured Thayer Munford early in the season and played well enough to keep the job even after Munford was healthy.

Condition: Stable​

The team may have a find in Glaze. I would expect they at very least give him the opportunity to prove it. Miller has proven in previous seasons that last year’s performance may be the outlier and figures to bounce back. That isn’t to say they will ignore this position entirely. After all, depth and competition are important. But they don’t have to make it a high priority, especially with several other positions in much more need of attention.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...s-need-offensive-tackle-position-free-agency/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Several coaches on the Raiders current staff come from the college ranks. And that number continues to grow. The latest is Beyah Rasool, who comes to Las Vegas from University of Florida.

The #Raiders are set to hire Florida assistant defensive backs coach Beyah Rasool as a defensive assistant, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Before UF, Rasool was defensive backs coach at Bowling Green and helped the team rank 12th nationally in pass defense in 2023. Has also… pic.twitter.com/ucCgq7lh5I

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 7, 2025

Rasool was the assistant defensive backs coach at Florida. Prior to that he was cornerbacks coach at Bowling Green.

He had an off-field role as an analyst at Florida, but Rasool was credited with helping the Gators defense improve from 3 interceptions in 2023 to 11 last season. While their passing yards per attempt also improved drastically.

Rasool’s specific title with the Raiders is not yet known, but they have several positions on the staff which have not been reported or officially announced including defensive backs coach, assistant defensive backs coach, and cornerbacks coach.

As it happens, the only position coach in which there is a departing member of the staff with no replacement yet reported is that of cornerbacks coach. Ricky Manning Jr will not return and his replacement has not yet known.

Now, going from assistant DB coach in college to defensive backs coach or cornerbacks coach in the pros is a bit of leap, but not unheard of. Whatever his role, the more talent on staff the better.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...yah-rasool-college-assistant-defensive-staff/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

As of this writing, Gerald Alexander was still shown as the safeties coach on the Raiders’ website. Expect that to change soon. Alexander has accepted the DB coach position with the Steelers.

Steelers are hiring Gerald Alexander as their new DB coach, per source.

Alexander is a smart, rising coach who spent last season as Raiders safeties coach. Now takes over Pitt secondary. pic.twitter.com/LMYDkB0Ygr

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 8, 2025

This is a return to Pittsburgh for Alexander who was the Steelers’ assistant DB coach in 2022-23. Prior to that he was the DB coach for two seasons in Miami.

Alexander was a very popular coach with the Raiders. He spent one season in Las Vegas and is credited with helping Tre’von Moehrig to have his best season in the NFL.

It may not be a coincidence that the Raiders reportedly hired Florida assistant DB coach Beyah Rasool to a position not yet revealed on the Raiders defensive staff. The Raiders also did not bring back cornerbacks coach Ricky Manning Jr, meaning this is officially a complete overhaul of the Raiders secondary coaching staff.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...ach-gerald-alexander-hired-steelers-db-coach/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ interior offensive line positions to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Andre James, Jordan Meredith​

Backups: Dylan Parham, Will Putnam​

Free agents: Cody Whitehair​

The offensive line was in flux all last season. With the starters cycling in and out in part to injury and in part to try and find the best combination. Rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson was injured early on, then started at left guard before moving to center for the injured Andre James and then shifting back to left guard due to other injuries and James being healthy again. Parham struggled in his 14 starts while Meredith appeared to show himself to be a better option.

Condition: Unstable​

They could probably run it back with JPJ at left guard, James at center, and Meredith at right guard with Parham as a utility reserve. But JPJ is the best center on this team, and if he is to play there, they would have to figure out what to do with James and would also need to upgrade the guard position so as to not have a letdown overall on the interior.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...interior-offensive-line-position-free-agency/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

The last time Pete Carroll was on an NFL sideline as a head coach, his starting quarterback was Geno Smith. The Seahawks went 17-16 over Carroll’s last two seasons in Seattle with Smith making two Pro Bowls. So, naturally when considering who Carroll might want behind center in Las Vegas, Smith would be at or near the top of that list.

The thing is, though, that the Seahawks will have say in that, and from the sounds of it, they may not be willing to let him go.

“Geno is our quarterback,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said in an interview with FOX 13’s Aaron Levine.

“It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback. He’s our quarterback. We love him. Can’t wait to go to work with him.”

McDonald added that he and the Seahawks believe they can win championships with Smith.

In order to keep Smith, the Seahawks may need to give him a contract extension. He has one year left on his current deal, but it carries a cap hit of $44 million and has no guaranteed money. That’s likely not what either Smith nor the team want. He wants job security, and they want his cap number to come down.

It’s certainly possible the coach is just saying what he is supposed to say or that he is saying how he feels, but that it doesn’t reflect the business side of this. But it’s at very least clear that if Pete Carroll does want Smith in Las Vegas, he’s going to have a tough time prying him away from Seattle.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...b-geno-smith-not-option-raiders-pete-carroll/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Davante Adams Jets reunion with Aaron Rodgers looks to be over already

Three games into last season, all the smoke about Davante Adams wanting to re-join his buddy Aaron Rodgers in New York turned out to be fire. Despite all of Adams’s denial that he wanted out, it was still September and he was forcing the Raiders’ hand.

After sitting out a few games with a sudden (phantom) ankle injury, the Raiders made the deal happen, sending him to the Jets for a third round pick.

What was supposed to solve all the issues facing both Adams and Rodgers — and the Jets — never quite materialized. The Jets won just three games in the 11 games the two were back together.

And now, not the least bit surprisingly, Rodgers is said to be wanting out. And Adams is unlikely return as well.

Davante Adams left his 2025 contract unchanged and his $38.3M cap number is untenable. He’d have to agree to a new deal to stay. And with Aaron Rodgers moving on, Adams likely will, as well.

Adams would like to be on the West Coast, I’m told

[image or embed]

— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet1.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM

When you look back at it, Adams kind of did the Raiders a solid here. Not to say it was intentional on his part, but the Raiders were going nowhere with or without him. Just like the Jets. The difference is the Raiders got the Jets to give up a third round pick for the pleasure.

As Rapoport noted, Adams wants to return to the West Coast. Which could put him back home with the 49ers, in Los Angeles with the Chargers or Rams, or perhaps Seattle.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/09/davante-adams-jets-reunion-aaron-rodgers-over-already/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at defensive tackle

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ defensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Christian Wilkins, Jonah Laulu​

Backups: Zach Carter, Matthew Butler, Tomari Fox, Tyler Manoa​

Free agents: Adam Butler, John Jenkins​

Wilkins was the team’s big free agent addition last offseason. He was lost for the season in week three, so they got a good long look at several other interior defenders in his absence. Adam Butler was the primary beneficiary of Wilkins’s loss, while the veteran Jenkins started all 17 games for the second season in a row in Las Vegas. Butler had a career year and the discovery among the group was 7th round rookie Jonah Laulu who was picked up off waivers from the Colts.

Condition: Unstable​

The two DT’s who played the most snaps last season are both headed for free agency. While it may be time to move on from the 36-year-old Jenkins, Butler’s loss would be significant. If he leaves, they would have to find a suitable replacement. That’s where the instability of this unit comes from right now.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...s-need-defensive-tackle-position-free-agency/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders opening odds for Super Bowl LX

The Super Bowl is behind us. The Eagles dismantled the Chiefs with a resounding 40-22 win that wasn’t even that close.

And with the Lombardi hoisted, it means Happy New Year to all who celebrate. With the new year comes new hopes. Everyone is 0-0 for the 2025 season, which means everyone has the same chance to do reach to mountaintop.

Though the odds might suggest a bit different. And as you might expect, the Raiders are not opening with great odds.

According to BetMGM, the Raiders sit at +15000 odds. Which is tied for the third worst odds in the league.

Here are all those odds.

Philadelphia Eagles +650
Baltimore Ravens +700
Kansas City Chiefs +750
Buffalo Bills +750
Detroit Lions +800
San Francisco 49ers +1400
Cincinnati Bengals +1800
Washington Commanders +2000
Green Bay Packers +2000
Los Angeles Rams +2500
Los Angeles Chargers +2500
Houston Texans +2500
Minnesota Vikings +3500
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3500
Chicago Bears +4000
Denver Broncos +4000
Miami Dolphins +4000
Seattle Seahawks +6000
Atlanta Falcons +6000
Arizona Cardinals +6600
Dallas Cowboys +6600
Pittsburgh Steelers +8000
New York Jets +10000
Jacksonville Jaguars +10000
Indianapolis Colts +10000
New England Patriots +12500
Carolina Panthers +15000
Cleveland Browns +15000
Las Vegas Raiders +15000
New Orleans Saints +15000
Tennessee Titans+20000
New York Giants +30000

A lot will happen this offseason to move these odds around. So, whether the Raiders odds go up or down will be in their hands. Figuring out their QB situation would figure to be the best way to raise those odds.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/10/raiders-nfl-opening-odds-super-bowl-lx/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at cornerback

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ cornerback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett​

Backups: DeCamerion Richardson, Sam Webb, Kyu Blu Kelly, MJ Devonshire, Keenan Isaac

Free agents: Nate Hobbs, Darnay Holmes​

Jones, Bennett, and Hobbs were the team’s starting trio to begin last season. Bennett was looking like he was a bonafide starting outside cornerback before he was lost to injury at midseason. Hobbs was lost a week later. Jones was healthy much of the season and had some nice moments including a team leading three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Condition: Serious​

The primary serious task here is re-signing Hobbs. He is their top cornerback and one of the better nickel corners in the league with a rare combination of coverage ability in the slot and run stop abilities. Jones had an up and down season and it’s hard to say how he’ll perform without his former high school and college coach Antonio Pierce gone. They didn’t get much from any of their backups that would signal there is anyone ready to step up.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/13/assessing-raiders-need-cornerback-position-free-agency/

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders hope these coaching staff additions can provide leg up in NFL draft evaluations

Every NFL team is looking for the ingredients within its organization to create some form or fashion of an advantage over the rest of the league.

New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll might have found an avenue that can create an advantage for Las Vegas.

Eight members of Carroll’s inaugural coaching staff in Las Vegas make their way to the Raiders from the college ranks. Carroll said that was by design and it should help Las Vegas in its 2025 NFL draft evaluations.

“It’s a really good point that you’re observing. The guys coming out of college football have a connection with the players, and not just the ones on their own teams, but the players that they’ve been playing against, the guys they’ve seen through recruiting.

“They’ve known these kids that are playing for years, and so in this draft in particular, and as it affected us when we started in Seattle, we really hit it in the middle to lower round picks, because I think we had better intel than maybe guys that hadn’t had that opportunity to connect to college. So it’s important to me to try to mix that. If you notice, we’ve been able to do that some. So it’s a real benefit,” Carroll said.

Carroll and the Raiders brought in Chip Kelly as the franchise’s new offensive coordinator. Kelly was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024, helping guide the Buckeyes to the national championship.

Kelly previously spent three years as the Philadelphia Eagles‘ head coach from 2013-15 and one as the San Francisco 49ers‘ head coach in 2016.

Carroll and the Raiders also added Sean Binckes as an offensive assistant, Brennan Carroll as its run game coordinator and offensive line coach, Kyle Fuller as its offensive quality control coach, Deland McCullough as its running backs coach, Ty McKenzie as its defensive assistant and linebackers coach, Beyah Rasool as its defensive quality control coach and Rowan as a defensive assistant.

Binckes spent 2024 as a graduate assistant at Ohio State, Carroll as the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington, Fuller as the assistant offensive line coach at Appalachian State, McCullough as the Notre Dame run game coordinator and running backs coach, McKenzie as a defensive analyst for North Carolina, Rasool as a Florida quality control coach and Rowan as Georgia Southern’s defensive line coach.

The Raiders own eight selections in the 2025 NFL draft, including the No. 6 overall selection.

Source: https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/20...aching-staff-additions-leg-up-2025-nfl-draft/