AFC West Futures: Can Pete Carroll, Geno Smith Reunion Bring Success to Raiders in 2025?

The million-dollar question was, what were the Raiders planning to do about their quarterback position in 2025? Season after season, we’ve been relying on temporary solutions, and now that proverbial bridge has come tumbling down again. You might ask why I’m being so harsh on this team. Hi, I’m Tipp, a loyal Raiders fan, much like an old faithful hound dog staying by its caretakers’ side, never leaving. I’ve witnessed countless seasons where I questioned the team’s direction, but remained loyal nonetheless.

Let's take a moment to reflect on when Pete Carroll was introduced as the head coach of the Raiders. He emphasized the importance of time, a notion that General Manager John Spytek fully agrees with. Just before the league new year, Geno Smith was traded from Seattle, where he had spent five years in the league. During one of those years, Smith recorded over 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, all while working under Pete Carroll. Their reunion is similar to that of Peaches and Herb, creating a harmonious partnership that resonates well.

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2025 AFC West Odds

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The Cast Is Not Complete…

Pop Quiz! Other than having a competent quarterback, what is essential for an offense to be successful? If you said the offensive line (O-line), smart answer! We are fooling ourselves if we think the O-line isn't a top priority for the Raiders this off-season. Hiring Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator indicates this. Kelly places a heavy emphasis on developing a formidable offensive line, which means there's potential for the Raiders to turn around their offensive line issues from last year.

Just look at what the Panthers achieved in 2024. Their offensive line was initially projected to be one of the weakest, but they transformed it into a top-10 unit by Week 18. Reports are surfacing that the Raiders are considering making Geno Smith their future quarterback as he enters the final year of his contract. If this is confirmed, everything is on the table, including moving out of the sixth spot in the draft to acquire an extra player from another team, or selecting either a running back or an offensive lineman. There are many options available, and soon we will see which path they choose.

This Division Could Get Nasty, Can the Raiders Take it?

Tell me about a division where each coach could be a Coach of the Year candidate, other than the AFC West! I’m patient; I can wait. Yet, this division seems up for grabs. While the Chiefs have dominated in recent years, the 49ers had a similar run until last season caught up with them. In fact, the only team that has played in as many games as the Chiefs over the last five years is surprisingly, KC themselves. So when might it be the Chiefs' turn to lose their grip? Could that be next season?

We also need to consider key players returning from injury, aging players, and those who may miss time due to off-the-field situations. The Chiefs' near future is looking murkier than ever, finally. It might be time for Patrick Mahomes to lose some of his magic. As for the L.A. Chargers, many factors worked in their favor last year, including holding 11 opponents to under 20 points. That feat will be difficult to replicate. Even with Joey Bosa not seeing much time on the field during his career in L.A., his absence will be felt as a leader in the locker room. Regarding the Broncos, Bo Nix was a pleasant surprise as a rookie and would have been the Rookie of the Year if it weren't for Jayden Daniels. Can he avoid a sophomore slump? C.J. Stroud experienced one. Although the Broncos’ staff will work hard to prevent this from happening, the other 31 teams will be analyzing videos of the Broncos' offense more than ever. Now, what kind of betting analyst would I be if I didn’t provide a little insight? Currently, on the Oddscheckers’ website, the Raiders are listed at +1800 to win the division. I have to say that taking advantage of this future is the right move here. We saw the Commanders get four wins in 2023 and then triple that to 12 in 2024. Why couldn’t a team like the Raiders do something similar in 2025? Is it time to invest in them? Tom Brady, GM John Spytek, and head coach Pete Carroll would tell you to. All three combine for 10 Super Bowl victories. Yeah, I think we should pay close attention to the Raiders this season!

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