Las Vegas Raiders open 2025 training camp with new coach Pete Carroll & QB Geno Smith. See how they, Maxx Crosby & Brock Bowers plan to fix a last-place offense.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Las Vegas Raiders officially turned the page on Wednesday, opening their 2025 training camp with a palpable new energy. Under the watchful eye of legendary head coach Pete Carroll and new GM John Spytek, a revamped roster featuring quarterback Geno Smith and a surprise veteran signing hit the field in Henderson, signaling a clear and decisive break from a forgettable 2024 campaign.
The energy is palpable. This isn't just another season; it's a reset. It's about competing in everything we do, starting today.
There's a different buzz in the building, and it starts at the top. Pete Carroll's arrival has injected a competitive spirit that players like Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers were already hyping on social media. That energy will be crucial for an offense undergoing a complete makeover. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is tasked with resurrecting a unit that finished 27th in total offense and dead last in rushing last season. He has new weapons to do it, with Geno Smith, fresh off a two-year extension, taking the reins. He'll be joined by star rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, a healthy second-year tight end in Bowers, and reliable receiver Jakobi Meyers. Keep an eye on Dont'e Thornton, who is already being tabbed as a potential breakout star after a strong offseason program. The biggest question mark remains the offensive line, which must show significant improvement for Kelly's scheme to fire on all cylinders.
Just when you thought the offseason roster moves were done, the Raiders made a splash on the eve of camp by signing veteran safety Jamal Adams. The move reunites the hard-hitting defensive back with Pete Carroll, his former coach in Seattle, and adds a jolt of physicality and leadership to the back end. Adams joins an already upgraded secondary featuring fellow newcomers Jeremy Chinn and Eric Stokes. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham now has a versatile and aggressive group to deploy. Up front, the defense will be anchored by new linebackers Germaine Pratt and Elandon Roberts, but the key to the entire unit's success may hinge on the health of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who is working his way back from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of 2024.
While the veterans reported today, the youth movement has been underway since the rookies arrived on July 17. The undisputed headliner is running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick from Boise State. Expectations couldn't be higher for Jeanty, who is penciled in as the immediate starter and a perfect fit for Chip Kelly's system. His prowess as a receiver out of the backfield—he led all FBS running backs in receiving yards in 2023—makes him a true dual-threat weapon. He's not the only new face expected to contribute, with second-round wideout Jack Bech and third-rounder Darien Porter adding depth and speed to the receiving corps.
The pieces are in place, the energy is high, and the questions are plentiful. As the Raiders grind through the Henderson heat, every practice will be a step towards answering whether this new era can translate into wins. All eyes now turn to the position battles and the highly anticipated preseason opener against the Seahawks, which suddenly has a whole lot more juice.
