The Las Vegas Raiders are back in the national conversation, though not for the reasons most teams would want. Ben Solak of ESPN recently ranked the Raiders as the NFL’s ninth most watchable team for 2025, calling them a group that will provide plenty of fireworks — both good and bad.
On offense, the Raiders are loaded with intrigue. Geno Smith, acquired from Seattle, is the definition of a high-variance quarterback. As Solak noted, Smith finished fifth in completion percentage over expectation last season, consistently attempting — and often making — throws most quarterbacks wouldn’t dare. He will now have Brock Bowers, the record-setting tight end who turned heads as a rookie, and Ashton Jeanty, the dynamic Boise State product capable of highlight runs from anywhere on the field. Add in the always-energetic Pete Carroll on the sideline, and the Raiders’ weekly entertainment value speaks for itself.
The problem? That same entertainment factor may be tied to a defense that projects to be unreliable, if not outright leaky. The departures of Christian Wilkins and Jakorian Bennett stripped away more than 5,800 defensive snaps from last year’s unit. Solak’s blunt summary — a strong passing game paired with a porous defense — hints at shootouts, meltdowns, and plenty of chaos.
A Raiders Power Structure in Flux
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Part of what makes the Raiders so fascinating is that their organizational drama rivals their on-field unpredictability. For more than a year, owner Mark Davis waited on NFL approval for Tom Brady to become a minority owner, which in turn delayed Brady’s envisioned role as the team’s top football voice. In the interim, Davis gave Antonio Pierce the permanent head-coaching title and paired him with Tom Telesco, the ex-Chargers general manager. Both were gone within a year.
Once Brady received approval, his influence became clear. He dismissed Pierce and Telesco, installing Pete Carroll as head coach and John Spytek as general manager. That decision alone underscored how unusual the Raiders’ direction has been: Carroll, 74 in September, becomes the oldest full-time head coach in NFL history, while Spytek is a long-time Brady confidant dating back to their Michigan days.
Carroll’s arrival ensured that Geno Smith — the quarterback who resurrected his career under Carroll’s watch in Seattle — would follow him to Vegas. The move raised eyebrows, not only because Smith is now under contract through 2026, but because the Raiders had spent much of last year’s draft season angling for a shot at Jayden Daniels. Their quarterback plan has been a moving target, and Smith, for all his compelling play, feels like a bridge rather than a long-term solution.
Raiders Roster Reboots and Familiar Names
The Raiders’ offseason has been marked by reshuffling at nearly every level. Chip Kelly is now offensive coordinator, Brennan Carroll coaches the offensive line, and Patrick Graham was retained to lead a defense that has struggled to find stability for more than a decade.
On the field, first-round pick Jeanty headlines a rookie class that will be asked to contribute immediately. Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby remains the franchise cornerstone, recently rewarded with a three-year, $106.5 million extension that briefly made him the highest-paid defender in football. Crosby’s relentless production gives the defense at least one anchor, even if the rest of the unit remains unproven.
The departures of key defensive contributors — Hobbs, Spillane, Moehrig — further emphasize the gap between a fun offense and a shaky defense. That imbalance is exactly what fuels the Raiders’ placement on Solak’s list: not elite quality across the board, but volatility that ensures something dramatic will happen.
Fun, Frustration, and the Future
Being the ninth most watchable team is a double-edged sword. For a franchise that has cycled through head coaches, general managers, and quarterbacks with alarming regularity, “watchable” often means unstable. Fans in Las Vegas can expect explosive plays, plenty of points, and perhaps more nail-biting losses than comfortable wins.
Pete Carroll’s enthusiasm and Geno Smith’s daring give this team an undeniable personality. Bowers and Jeanty add rare playmaking ability. But the lingering question — as has been the case for years — is whether the Raiders can build something sustainable beyond entertainment value.
For now, they are must-see TV. Whether that translates to wins is another matter entirely.