The Las Vegas Raiders kick off the preseason on August 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. Before we get into the new season, let’s look at the top returning players from last season and the top new incomers.
When it comes to quarterbacks, Aidan O’Connell had the second-highest yards with 1,612 and 154 completions for the Raiders in 2024. Las Vegas acquired Geno Smith from the Seahawks. Smith threw 4,320 yards for 407 completions and 21 touchdowns last season. In Smith’s first season with the Raiders, O’Connell recently said he is “one of the most impressive quarterbacks I’ve ever been around.” The current depth chart has Smith as the starting quarterback.
For the rushing yard leaders, Sincere McCormick is the top returning player for the Raiders. He rushed for 183 yards. Las Vegas drafted Ashton Jeanty as the sixth pick in the first round. Jeanty had runs of 50+ yards in nine of the 13 games he played in 2024 at Boise State. He led the NCAA with 2,601 rushing yards on 374 carries. The current depth chart has Jeanty as the starting running back.
Tight end Brock Bowers had the most receiving yards for the team in 2024. In 17 games played, he had 1,194 yards on 112 receptions. Bowers averaged 10.7 yards and had five touchdowns. The current depth chart has Bowers as the starting tight end and Dont’e Thornton Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker as the starting receivers. Thornton Jr. was drafted as the 108th pick in the fourth round this year. In his junior and senior years at Tennessee, he had 885 yards, 39 receptions and seven touchdowns. Meyers had 1,027 yards, 87 receptions and four touchdowns in 15 games last season. Tucker played in 17 games for the Raiders last season and accumulated 539 yards, 47 receptions and three touchdowns. He is the starting kick and punt returner on the current depth chart.
Isaiah Pola-Mao is the highest returning tackler on the team. He had the third-highest tackles last season with 57. Maxx Crosby led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2024. Click here to see the defensive starters on the current depth chart.
On special teams, Daniel Carlson returns as the kicker, AJ Cole as the punter and Jacob Bobenmoyer as the long snapper. Carlson made 34 of 40 field goals in 2024. Cole recorded 65 punts last season with an average of 50.8 yards and a long of 71 yards.
The coaching staff has new members for the 2025 season. Pete Carroll is the head coach. Carroll is entering his 31st season in the NFL. He recently spent 14 seasons as the Executive VP and Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks from 2010-2023. Chip Kelly is the offensive coordinator, Greg Olsen is the quarterbacks coach, Patrick Graham returns as the defensive coordinator and Tom McMahon returns as the special teams coordinator.
