The Las Vegas Raiders seemed dead in the water a few months ago. They lacked a head coach who could rally the locker room, had major struggles at quarterback, and faced mounting pressure on owner Mark Davis to make changes that would return the franchise to its former glory.
A Super Bowl-winning coach hire, a trade for an established quarterback, and a viral workout have fans excited about the future of Las Vegas football.
Pete Carroll-Geno Smith Pairing Has Raiders Fans Reinvigorated
After a tumultuous year that ended with a 4-13 record and a last place finish in the AFC West, the Raiders elected to make a coaching change. Antonio Pierce lasted just one season as the Vegas’ full-time head coach but made headlines for his subliminal back-and-forth exchange with Davante Adams. The star wide receiver was traded mid-season to the New York Jets and recently signed with the Los Angeles Rams after being released by Gang Green.
The Raiders have turned to Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll to take them back to the promised land. Carroll is best known for his tenure at USC and his time as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, where he won Super Bowl 48. Carroll spent last season as an advisor to the Seahawks after stepping down from coaching.
Following the hire, the Raiders addressed their clear need at quarterback by trading for Geno Smith; once labeled a bust after stints with the Jets, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers, Smith revived his career in Seattle. He posted solid numbers in all three years as the Seahawks’ starter after his breakout 2022, though his interceptions increased last season.
Stefon Diggs-Raiders Rumors Heating Up Following Viral Workout
One of the most notable issues plaguing the Raiders’ depth chart is their need for star power in the wide receiver room. Adams’ departure leaves Jakobi Meyers as the most established receiver on the roster with little depth behind him. Rookie sensation Brock Bowers will command his fair share of targets going into Year 2, but a viral video featuring Smith and free agent Stefon Diggs has sparked speculation about the Raiders’ next move.
GENO SMITH THROWING TO STEFON DIGGS.
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Diggs has had an extremely quick recovery from his torn ACL — could we see Diggs and Smith together in Las Vegas…
pic.twitter.com/fU4DGTPX9r— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 16, 2025
Diggs spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans after four years with the Buffalo Bills. His season was cut short after eight games due to a torn ACL, but he was still ranked as the 41st best free agent according to PFSN’s Top 121 NFL Free Agent Rankings.
His route-running and sure hands would be a welcome addition in Las Vegas. Diggs looked sharp in his recent workout, and a pairing with Smith could be exactly what the Raiders need for a playoff push.
Raiders Wide Receiver Depth Chart
While this is all speculation based on an offseason workout — and it is common for players from different teams to get together during their time off — this connection likely gained traction because of Las Vegas’ clear need for talent out wide.
While Diggs is not the same player he used to be, he can still be an effective receiver as evidenced by his 415 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in his first seven weeks (15th and t-10th in the NFL, respectively). However, he has still shown signs of decline, and an ACL injury is not reassuring for the 31-year-old receiver, who will likely be slow to start the 2025 season.
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However, the Raiders don’t have many options that could reliably dominate outside. Diggs would likely start as soon as he is healthy, with Meyers lining up on the other side after playing 65.8% of his snaps on the outside in 2024. Bowers dominated the slot reps in Vegas as a rookie (363), with DJ Turner in third (currently a free agent, but he played 73% of his snaps inside).
If the Raiders don’t bring back Turner, the black and silver are looking at a starting duo of Meyers and Tre Tucker, with Alex Bachman being their next highest-snap-earning returner with just 51 passing-down snaps.
This could be a sign that the Raiders are preparing to make a move, whether it’s looking toward the 2025 NFL Draft class or bringing in a crafty veteran.