Las Vegas Raiders’ riskiest move in 2025 NFL offseason

When talking about long-languishing franchises like the Silver and Black, it can feel silly to become preoccupied with the term “ceiling.” Before a squad even thinks about sustained playoff success, it needs to put together a couple of winning campaigns in a row. That Raiders have not achieved such a feat in more than 20 years. However, if the organization implements the right blueprint, fans should be willing to endure a bit more turbulence.

Losing en route to a promising future is a necessary part of many grand revivals, but losing without maintaining any sense of direction is abject failure. Mark Davis’ squad has shamefully lived in the latter category for much of this century, which is particularly confounding when you remember how brilliantly the millennium began.

But with NFL icon and part-owner Tom Brady at least somewhat involved in football-related decisions, Super Bowl 48 champion Pete Carroll serving as head coach and All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and incredibly gifted running back Ashton Jeanty comprising significant roles in the offense, the timing seemed right to build for the next era of Las Vegas football.

Instead, the front office pursued a veteran who, while being a capable playmaker and precise passer (70.4 completion percentage last season) probably does not have much more room to grow. He is a potential solution, but one that could come with an imminent expiration date.

Perhaps with Carroll, the man who helped breathe new life into his football career in Seattle, Geno Smith can produce big numbers and lead the Raiders to considerably more wins in 2025-26 and beyond. If this experiment flames out, though, the consequences could be severe.

Las Vegas could have gone another route in the NFL Draft

John Spytek selected North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller in the sixth round. The FCS star apparently comes with a Brady seal of approval and boasts a versatile skill set. There are plenty of people who believe he is one of the draft’s hidden gems. Maybe they’re right, but the Raiders could have taken a QB much earlier. If Shedeur Sanders excels, all eyes will be on the Silver and Black and a few other organizations that repeatedly passed on the fifth-rounder.

The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has an existing relationship with Brady and has experience playing in adversity-laden situations. His NFL transition will be interesting to watch on the Cleveland Browns. Aside from Sanders, there is another name whose professional legacy could forever be linked with Vegas. And it is the prospect they essentially traded to acquire Smith in March.

Seattle Seahawks rookie signal-caller Jalen Milroe is a project, to be sure, but he possess the superb athleticism and big arm that make scouts salivate. If the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout can find a consistent form in the pocket and cut down on the turnovers, he could morph into a dynamic offensive weapon.

Even if you do not agree with my hesitation regarding Smith, one can see the risk in refusing to take a chance on a raw talent like Milroe or another QB and waiting until deep into Day 3 to scoop up Miller. If the two-time FCS national champion exceeds his draft stock, then Spytek will look like a genius for prioritizing other areas of need before pulling off a heist in the sixth.

However, the unconventional route is a scary path for this specific franchise to explore when it comes to addressing the most important position in the sport. But maybe that is exactly what the team needs in order to obtain redemption. Nevertheless, I have questions about Las Vegas’ current Geno Smith plan.

Considering the Raiders reside in a division that sent three teams to the playoffs last season, including the NFL’s most recent dynasty, it is difficult to foresee true change occurring with a QB whose ceiling is seemingly limited. Smith could stop the bleeding, but it is unclear if he has the healing powers to repair this deeply flawed football operation.

And without that long-term stability, this squad cannot truly evolve.