Pete Carroll praises ‘reborn’ veteran player

When Pete Carroll and John Spytek joined the Las Vegas Raiders in January, they came with designs to push the team back to respectability.

In order to accomplish this, the new regime got to work and brought in players that fit the new identity Carroll wishes to instill in the Raiders. This not only meant signing and drafting players who can start right away, but also to make the team deeper in key areas. Not every move Carroll and Spytek make has to be the flashy type, but they will provide the Raiders with what they need to be successful.

One such under-the-radar signing was highlighted by Carroll.

Carroll praised one of the Raiders’ unheralded free agent signings.

During the Raiders’ Media Day, Carroll spoke about the tight end group, with one of the names he mentioned not being Brock Bowers or Michael Mayer, but veteran free agent pickup Ian Thomas.

“We have had influence from guys — Ian Thomas has had a tremendous camp with us. It feels like he has kind of been reborn again. With a stout tight-end group, he gives us a new factor,” Carroll said.

Thomas started his career strong with the Carolina Panthers in 2018, but the 29-year-old saw his playing time diminish as time went on.

Now with the Raiders, Thomas provides a strong run-blocking element that his two younger teammates are currently developing. Adding Thomas gives the Raiders the freedom to get Bowers and Mayer more freedom to run routes and make an impact in the passing game, while the veteran makes lanes for rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. There is a chance Thomas gets some chances with the ball in his hands, but his primary focus will be doing the dirty work and giving his teammates the space necessary to make plays.

If Carroll’s comments are anything to go by, Thomas is doing a tremendous job in that regard so far this offseason.