Pressure increases for 2-11 Raiders, head coach Pete Carroll

It has been a disappointing campaign for the Las Vegas Raiders under head coach Pete Carroll.

Carroll arrived with sky-high expectations, even declaring in a preseason interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “We are going to win a bunch of games.” Instead, the Raiders have dropped seven straight, a sharp departure from Carroll’s long history of success at USC and with the Seattle Seahawks. The underperformance has left Raider Nation frustrated and increasingly vocal about the need for change.

With games left at the Philadelphia Eagles, at the Houston Texans and vs. the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs, Carroll's window to salvage the season is rapidly closing.

At 2–11, the Raiders are second in the projected 2026 NFL Draft order, a spot that could deliver a franchise quarterback if their skid continues. But even one or two late-season wins could complicate that path.

Raiders are searching for stability under center

The quarterback situation remains unsettled. If Geno Smith (shoulder) can’t play this week, Kenny Pickett, a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, is expected to start. A strong performance from Pickett, who has played in only three games this season, could strengthen his case as Carroll’s long-term option — and potentially reshape the front office’s draft priorities.

If the Raiders climb to the top pick, they could target a premier prospect such as Indiana’s Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza.

As the season winds down, Carroll faces pivotal decisions: Should he prioritize evaluating younger quarterbacks or lean on veterans to steady the team? Should he advocate for continuity moving forward, or push for a bold change in the draft or free agency?

Carroll was brought in to rejuvenate a franchise in need of direction. But so far, the gamble has not paid off. The Raiders’ struggles have intensified scrutiny on their new head coach, and with a potential organizational reset looming, the pressure for results is only growing.