Raiders Report Card: Grading the surprises, standouts, and disappointments from the first third of the 2025 season

The start of 2025 hasn't been too kind to the Las Vegas Raiders. However, this is, in a way, their own fault. They made the offseason decisions that they made, no one else. And so, as we sit here after a win over the Tennessee Titans, it's still very obvious that this is not a good football team one-third through the 2025 season.

Regardless, it's time to grade the Raiders now that we're done with the season's first trimester. Let's stop wasting time and dive in.

Offensive superlatives

MVP: Do I have to pick one?

There really isn't an MVP of the season on the offensive side of the ball so far. Jeanty hasn't been what we thought he would, even as a rookie, but it's not his fault. Geno Smith has been bad, and the passing offense hasn't really been good enough to name any of the wide receivers as one, either. The offensive line is the worst part of the offense outside of Smith, and Brock Bowers hasn't played much at all. There literally isn't an MVP on a 2-4 team that got by wins really off the backs of the defense.

Glue guy: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson

He didn't get to start the season at center, his true position, but he's still been really good, when he has played, at guard, with certainly some things to work on. However, when he is playing, the offensive line is significantly better in the run game than when he is not. To me, he's the easy answer as the glue guy on an offense that has nothing else to write home about.

Biggest surprise: WR Tre Tucker

Tuckeer may be the best wide receiver on the team, and if he's not, he's definitely playing like it. He already has four touchdowns through six weeks, and had one game with three touchdowns. Tucker looks to have improved every aspect of his game, and knows that this year is big for him if he wants to get paid when it's time to get paid.

Biggest disappointment: QB Geno Smith

I'm not sure there needs to be much said here. Smith leads the NFL in interceptions with ten, and just when we thought he would have a non-turnover game against the Titans last week, he threw one, and that was just as color commentator Johnathan Vilma said that he hadn't thrown an interception yet. He's forcing things, not using his eyes very well, and just not playing like we ever saw him play with the Seattle Seahawks.

Turning point of the last six weeks: Losing to the Chicago Bears at home

The Bears are not a good team, and yet, they came in and walked off the Raiders at home. And, by walk off, I mean they blocked a field goal that would have won the game for Vegas. However, that loss is when you really started to notice that this was a bad team.

Overall Grade: D

Raiders QB Geno Smith 2025 Stats

• 2-4 QB record in 2025
• 66% Completion Percentage
• 123 Completed Passes on 163 Passing Attempts
• Seven Passing Touchdowns
• 10 Interceptions
• 1,350 Passing Yards
• 77.6 Quarterback Rating

Defensive superlatives

MVP: EDGE Maxx Crosby

This one is a no-brainer. You have players on the other team saying every single week, win or loss, that Crosby is one of the best overall players in the league. Against the Titans, he was doubled all game and still had two sacks. He's just unstoppable at this point.

Glue guy: LB Devin White

Last game against the Titans, you could say that White was the MVP. He really is the chemistry guy on the team, and the definition of a glue guy, and it helps when his play backs it up. He had one interception, one strip sack, and nine tackles in the game. Devin White has been balling, but for him, it's all about the team.

Biggest surprise: DT Jonah Laulu

A practice squad pickup after being on the Indianapolis Colts, the former Oklahoma Sooners DT has been amazing for the Raiders in that starting DT rotation next to Adam Butler, as he already has four sacks on the year. Laulu was looked at as a run stopper and space stuffer coming in, but he's been that and a great pass rusher.

Biggest disappointment: S Isaiah Pola-Mao

I wouldn't say he's been bad, but last year, when he had to fill in for an injured Mike Epps, I would say he was much better than how he's played thus far. Getting under DB guru Pete Carroll, and getting the big contract was something we all thought would show he's getting better, but it hasn't looked exactly like that so far.

Overall Grade: B+