The Raiders released their initial 53 man roster on Tuesday, and following completed some additional transactions to complete out the rest of the roster. Las Vegas had some losses in the offseason and then added some notable additions as well. The Raiders did make strides when it came to their coaching staff, hiring super bowl winning and likely future Hall of Famer Pete Carroll at head coach and former Eagles HC Chip Kelly as their OC. Las Vegas made some additional additions when it came to their positional coaching staff, notably on the offensive side of the ball, but additions were made on defense too. The Raiders coaching staff turnover makes the off-season moves largely to be seen, and the coaches will elevate talent as well. Looking at the baseline talent, how did the Raiders fare in their offseason moves?
* Key Note: Losses and Additions will be factored in however players who didn’t play large snap shares such as Christian Wilkins don’t have as much of an impact as someone with a large snap share * – Defense will be posted shortly after this article as well.
Quarterback: Upgraded
- Additions: Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett,
- Subtractions: Gardner Minshew, Carter Bradley, Desmond Ridder
I don’t really know how much I have to explain this one, last season the Raiders played three different quarterbacks (four with Carter Bradley taking a couple knee and rushing snaps). Gardner Minshew, signed as a free agent, was extremely underwhelming tossing 9 TD and 10 INT with 2013 yards and a 66.3% comp rate. Additionally, he logged a 1.5% Big Time Throw Rate (BTT) and a 2.4% Turnover Worthy Play Rate (TWP). Minshew also added a 81.0 QBR. Meanwhile, his backup?, Aidan O’Connell tossed a 63.4% completion rate for 1612 yards, 8 TD, and 4 INT. However, O’Connell also added a 3.6% TWP rate, a 4.6% BTT rate, and 86.7 QBR. O’Connell didn’t look horrible but he was far from a starting caliber QB and was simply a backup caliber QB thrust into a starting role due to injuries and poor play. Lastly, Desmond Ridder, signed halfway through the season ended up logging 85 pass attempts where he tossed 2 TD and 2 INT with a 61.2% completion rate, 458 yards, and a 73.6 QBR. Ridder also logged a 4.5% BTT rate and a 4.8% TWP rate.
The Raiders knew they needed to add a new QB, and traded for Geno Smith who started for the Seahawks the last three seasons and now will make the same strides in Las Vegas. Smith tossed 4320 yards, 21 TD, and 15 INT while also completing 70.4% of his attempts behind the NFL’s 28th ranked offensive line. Smith also logged an elite 4.5% BTT rate, was graded the best QB on 20+ yard throws, and had a phenomenal 2.6% TWP rate (18 plays). Smith also logged a 93.2 QBR which was top 8 in the NFL. The Raiders needed a clear QB upgrade, and Smith provides that. He’s coming off back to back seasons finishing top 10 in the NFL for pass yards, BTT rate, and completion percentage. Now stepping into Las Vegas, where his offensive line should be drastically better than it was in Seattle, and his weapons are also improved the Raiders should be expecting top 10 play from Smith. Geno Smith has the potential to have the best season for a Raiders QB in nearly a decade this season.
Runningback: Upgraded
- Additions: Ashton Jeanty, Raheem Mostert
- Subtractions: Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Sincere McCormick
Starting with the additions this time, rookie runningback Ashton Jeanty is coming off what arguably could be the best college football season by a runningback in history. Jeanty finished 2nd in Heisman voting, won the Maxwell Award, was an All-American, and back to back MW OPOY. In his 2024 season, Jeanty posted 2601 yard and 29 touchdowns on 374 attempts. He added another 138 yards and 2 TD through the air. Jeanty added an exceptional 125 forced missed tackles and 1695 yards after contact as well. The Raiders landed an elite runningback with Jeanty. He possess elite balance control, a strong compact frame capable of running through defenders, but also possess elite vision, and the ability to maneuver through defenses. After the leagues worst rushing attack last season, Jeanty is going to catapult the Raiders to the top. Raheem Mostert was brought in as a veteran addition in case 4th year Zamir White and 2nd year Dylan Laube couldn’t take a step forward, and both did. After 1000 yards in 2023, Mostert took a step back in 2024 posting just 278 yards and a 3.3 average. He’s a quick runningback who will serve as a third option in the room behind the emergence of Zamir White. Laube is best suited for the special teams role but can do effective work on the ground as well.
Alexander Mattison led the Raiders in yards with 420 and four touchdowns on 132 attempts (3.2 avg), he served well as a rotational back but wasn’t a starting caliber runningback anymore. The losses of Ameer Abdullah (66 att, 311 yards, 2 TD, 4.7 avg) and Sincere McCormick (39 att, 183 yds, 4.7 avg) do hurt a little bit in terms of depth but not enough to make the room anything short of a massive upgrade. In terms of the receiving game, Ashton Jeanty provides a spark after nearly 600 yards through the air in his 2023 season at Boise State, but the losses of Ameer Abdullah and Alexnader Mattison do hurt at times with both performing well as scat backs. If Dylan Laube can take a step towards his college self, the receiving game will be improved as well.
Wide Receiver: Upgrade
- Additions: Amari Cooper, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton
- Subtractions: DJ Turner, Terrace Marshall Jr, Kristian Wilkerson, Tyreik McAllister, Ramel Keyton, Alec Bachman (now on PS)
- Sort of a Subtraction: Davante Adams
The Raiders made an effort to overhaul the entire wide receiver room. The team traded Davante Adams to the Jets after he played just 3 games for the team hauling in 18 rec, 209 yards, a touchdown, while also dropping 5 passes in those games. Basing on the parameters of comparing to the majority of the roster in 2024, his loss isn’t really felt as much as it was towards the end of 2024. Outside of Adams, none of the other losses are notable with DJ Turner contributing the most at 158 yards and 16 receptions with another 33 yards on the ground. Marshall, Wilkerson, McAllister, and Keyton combined for 66 yards and just 7 receptions. The Raiders do retain Jakobi Meyers, who’s going into a contract season and coming off an exceptional 2024 season which saw him haul in over a thousand yards, rank top 5 in contested catches, and also fail to drop a pass the entire season. Along with Meyers the Raiders return Tre Tucker, who hauled in 539 yards and three touchdowns while also averaging 30 yards per catch on 20+ yard attempts and being 8th in PFF grade for those same throws.
Las Vegas recently brought in Amari Cooper, reuniting him with the franchise. Cooper is coming off a rather disappointing 2024 season after being name a Pro Bowler in 2023 where he logged a career high 1250 yards. Between the Bills and Browns in 2024, Cooper snagged 44 receptions, 547 yards, and four touchdowns but added a 16.5% drop rate, which was the highest in his career. Las Vegas is hoping a return to the Raiders and a stable team instead of trades could help rejuvenate him for the 2025 season. Cooper will likely serve as one of the Raiders starting wide receivers along with Meyers and then a rotation of Tucker and the two soon to be mentioned rookies. Speaking of those rookies, Las Vegas is going to be seeking production from the two of Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech. Thornton flashed in preseason, and the 6’5/210 standout from Tennessee does have all the athletic numbers. The issues come with Thornton’s lack of route running, limited route tree, and overall raw play style. Bech on the other hand is a copy of Jakobi Meyers, at 6’2/210 and wins consistently in the contested catch department while earning separation through his route running and explosiveness out of breaks. Las Vegas overall upgraded the entire room, they added better starting options with Cooper to pair with Meyers and Tucker while elevating the depth with Thornton and Bech. There’s a reality where the Raiders do end up with every WR posting over 500 yards and no one above 1000.
Tight End: Extremely Minor Upgrade
- Additions: Ian Thomas
- Subtractions: Harrison Bryant, John Samuel Shenker, Justin Shorter (now on PS)
I won’t talk much about the tight end room. Harrison Bryant was serviceable for the Raiders posting 86 yards and just nine receptions. Ian Thomas comes in and will serve the same role, but likely upgrades the blocking which Las Vegas will prioritize in their run game. In addition, the return of Michael Mayer following personal matters in 2024 is a huge boost to the overall depth of the room and Mayer seems to be taking a step forward in his development after just 156 yards and 21 receptions in 2024. Lastly Brock Bowers is well Brock Bowers, he had the greatest rookie season from a TE ever in 2024, and will look to build upon that in 2025. He’s arguably the best TE in the NFL alongside 49ers George Kittle and is going towards a scheme that favors the TE along with Geno Smith, who also favors the tight end. Bowers should be sensational in 2025, yet again. The losses of John Samuel Shenker and Justin Shorter aren’t huge with neither turning in key roles in 2024.
Offensive Line: Push, Minor Upgrade
- Additions: Alex Cappa, Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Stone Forsythe, Will Putnam (PS to 53 man)
- Subtractions: Andre James, Cody Whitehair, Andrus Peat, Thayer Munford Jr
This is where things get weird. The return of a fully healthy Kolton Miller is massive, after struggling in the first five weeks fans turned on Miller before he came back to his usual self to finish the season. After a nagging shoulder injury last off-season, he’s coming back into form this year and is gunning for his Pro Bowl honor. Alongside him is Dylan Parham, who’s started three straight seasons. Like he has the last three seasons, Parham will now flip back to left guard after playing 2024 at right guard where he allowed 36 pressures and 5 sacks. Parham has developed into an above average guard and going into a contract year, the Raiders will be looking for further development before getting any extension done. Center is a change, after originally starting the 2024 season with Andre James (who was quickly benched), then rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson took over where the Remington award finalist from Oregon flashed. This year, Jordan Meredith who graded out as the 8th best guard in the NFL last season after allowing 9 pressures and 0 sacks in over 500 total snaps, moves to center. Meredith got looks from the staff to start camp at center and quickly entrenched himself there which moves the aforementioned Jackson Powers-Johnson to right guard. Powers-Johnson should play well at guard, and regardless he gets the best five on the field with Meredith moving to center. Next to him is fellow 2024 selection, DJ Glaze. Glaze had an up and down 2024 season where he allowed 51 pressures and three sacks but graded out well and had some strong performances vs top competition.
In terms of depth, the Raiders get a little questionable. They lose Cody Whitehair, who turned in an average season playing just 221 snaps but allowing nine pressures and 0 sacks. Additionally, former Saints first rounder Andrus Peat leaves after playing only 65 snaps and not performing to a good level. The aforementioned James was released just a year into his extension, and inevitably ended up with the Chargers as their backup center. Las Vegas also made the move to cut 2022 7th rounder Thayer Munford, who had previously started nearly 16 games for the team, after a rough preseason where he graded out as one of the worst T in the NFL. Munford allowed 5 sacks and 10 pressures last season in only a little over 150 games so it’s not fully surprising. What is surprising, is replacing Munford with former Seahawks and Giants tackle Stone Forsythe who was one of the worst T in the NFL from 2022-2024 and largely responsible for the Giants struggle at tackle at times. Forsythe last season, prior to being benched, led the NFL in pressures with 35 and the next closest tackle had 19. He’s a big offensive lineman with good movement skills but Forsythe struggles to maintain balance and foot speed which causes him to struggle at times. In addition, Las Vegas added Alex Cappa who notably led NFL offensive lineman last season in pressures, sacks, and hurries allowed. Cappa pushed for the Raiders starting guard spot before an injury and is not the teams first off the bench for an interior OL injury. Behind them come 2024 UDFA Will Putnam, who played better in 2025’s preseason than he did in 2024 but is also the teams only true center for what that’s worth. 3rd round rookies Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers don’t provide a ton in their rookie seasons, with Grant likely taking on a “redshirt” season to develop after coming to the NFL from William & Mary. Both played in the preseason and showed flashes but often there was some struggles with technique from both.
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