‘This Is a Team That Is Still a Year Away’: Raiders Urged to Rebuild in 2025

Las Vegas does have foundational pieces to build around, including edge rusher Maxx Crosby and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. These players provide a strong core, but the overall roster still requires upgrades to become a playoff-caliber team. Rushing into contention could risk depleting resources without achieving meaningful progress.

Rebuilding would allow Las Vegas to evaluate its existing talent and identify long-term solutions. This season could be used to assess future needs and make strategic moves, rather than risking assets on short-term fixes. Analysts argue that finishing outside the AFC West basement would already signal meaningful progress for the franchise.

NFL Analysis Urges Las Vegas Raiders to Rebuild in 2025

Las Vegas may need to think of the future by starting its rebuilding phase as soon as possible. This is detailed more in an analysis by Gary Davenport for Bleacher Report.

Back when Pete Carroll took over as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, he made it clear to reporters that the team intended to contend right away.

“It took us a few years to get to the very top of the last couple programs I was with,” he said. “We’re starting right now and going for it immediately. … We’re going to start right now, (we’re) going to go after it and build this team as quickly as we can.”

This no doubt made the Raiders’ long-suffering fanbase happy, and the trade that brought veteran quarterback Geno Smith to Sin City was indicative of a team that plans to contend immediately. But at the risk of angering Raider Nation, this is a team that is still a year away, especially in an AFC West that put three teams in the playoffs last season.

Carroll’s leadership and experience bring hope, but success takes time, especially with a new regime. A patient approach, focused on roster development and strategic drafting, might better position Las Vegas for sustained success in the years ahead.

Though rebuilding may not excite fans eager for immediate wins, it offers a realistic path to long-term contention. By addressing their weaknesses and focusing on the future, the Raiders can lay the groundwork for a competitive team capable of thriving in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.