The nine most interesting teams of the offseason, Volume 1: Rams, Chargers and Raiders
Feb 25, 2025
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Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beat writer for The Athletic, shares insights on Matthew Stafford's uncertain future and the team's push for speed in their offense. Daniel Popper delves into the Chargers' financial flexibility and the implications of restructuring their roster. Tashan Reed discusses the Raiders' new management dynamics, including Tom Brady's role and the vision for a turnaround. The trio reveals strategies for balancing immediate success while planning for the long term as their teams navigate an intriguing offseason.
Tom Brady's advisory role with the Raiders significantly influences key decisions, aiming to stabilize the franchise's future after Al Davis's passing.
Pete Carroll's hiring as head coach is expected to bring experience and a competitive culture to the Raiders during their rebuilding phase.
The Raiders are focusing on rebuilding their roster, emphasizing the importance of strengthening offensive and defensive lines through strategic draft investments.
The team is navigating a challenging quarterback market, opting for a one-year stopgap veteran while searching for a long-term solution.
Deep dives
Tom Brady's Influence on Raiders' Strategy
Tom Brady has taken on a significant advisory role within the Raiders organization, influencing key decisions like hiring a head coach and general manager. Mark Davis, the team's owner, has acknowledged his limitations in football knowledge and is looking to Brady's experience to guide the franchise moving forward. This revamped structure aims to fill a void left since Al Davis's passing. While Brady cannot officially hold a front-office position due to NFL rules, his input is expected to shape the team's direction significantly.
The Impact of Pete Carroll's Hiring
Pete Carroll's hiring as the head coach provides a wealth of experience and knowledge, which is a shift from the previous regime. The Raiders see him as a stabilizing force capable of building a competitive culture despite being in a rebuilding phase. Carroll’s previous success, both in college and the NFL, positions him to effectively manage a young roster. However, given the team's current state, the challenge will be to develop a competitive team while navigating the lack of established talent and a long-term quarterback solution.
Rebuilding the Roster: A Foundation for Success
The Raiders are focused on rebuilding their roster with a strong emphasis on building the trenches—both offensive and defensive lines. With significant cap space and draft resources, they aim to identify long-term starters, particularly after a disappointing season. This forward-thinking approach emphasizes adding depth and potential playmakers to ensure the franchise’s competitiveness in future seasons. Despite the urgency to win, the franchise seems committed to a gradual yet strategic rebuild rather than quick fixes.
Strategies for Quarterback Acquisitions
The Raiders find themselves in a challenging position regarding quarterback acquisition amidst a barren market. While options like Matthew Stafford have been discussed, the overall team may not be in a position to contend, making it risky to invest heavily in an aging quarterback. The preferred strategy involves seeking a one-year stopgap veteran to establish competency and potentially drafting a long-term solution. This approach will allow the franchise to assess available talent while avoiding the pitfalls of overcommitting to uninspiring quarterbacks.
Key Defensive Personnel Decisions Ahead
The defense is undergoing significant changes, with numerous free agents seeking new contracts, making it critical for the Raiders to evaluate their options prudently. Players like Trayvon Merrick, who emerged as a key contributor, could command substantial contracts, complicating the decision-making for the Raiders. However, Robert Spillane is viewed as a re-signing priority, given his consistent play and leadership on the field. The front office must also determine which players will fit into their long-term plans while continuing to build a competitive defense.
Evaluating Offensive Line Dynamics
The Raiders must decide the future of their offensive line, a crucial component to their overall success moving forward. With young players like DJ Glaze and Jackson Powers Johnson showing potential, the team is incentivized to evaluate their growth before making significant investments. Keeping existing players while possibly adding key veterans can solidify the line and allow for flexibility to maximize player development. With different strategies, the Raiders can either bolster their line for immediate improvement or utilize developmental talents for future gains.
Future Roadmap: Building Towards Competitiveness
The Raiders' roadmap hinges on crafting a solid plan to become relevant in the highly competitive AFC West. As they rebuild, their strategy must strike a balance between immediate improvements and long-term growth, especially with the selection of the sixth overall pick in the draft. By strategically using their massive cap space to address both immediate and future needs, the team can position itself favorably for future seasons. A successful offseason will be defined by their ability to create a foundation that nurtures young talent and instills a culture of winning.
Welcome back to The Athletic Football Show's favorite combine week tradition: mining our ridiculously knowledgable beat writers for all the insight they have on their teams. We handpicked nine teams we deemed the most interesting of this offseason after the Super Bowl, then scheduled time during combine week to talk with each of their beat writers. This is the first entry in that series, featuring Jourdan Rodrigue on the Rams; Daniel Popper on the Chargers; and Tashan Reed on the Raiders. When and how with the Matthew Stafford domino fall? What will the Chargers do with all their financial flexibility? What do the Raiders look like under the Pete Caroll/John Spytek (and Tom Brady) regime? Robert Mays gets into all that with the beat writers, and a whole lot more.
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Host: Derrik Klassen
With: Jourdan Rodrigue, Daniel Popper, Tashan Reed
