Pete Carroll's first-ever draft pick with the Seattle Seahawks has a lot of similarities with 2025 that could foreshadow a Raiders draft pick
Before coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, Pete Carroll was the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks from 2010 to 2023. That's 13 years of drafting experience to use when trying to see which way he could lean in this upcoming draft. And, right now, it feels like it's impossible to guess what will happen. Sure, […]
Before coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, Pete Carroll was the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks from 2010 to 2023. That's 13 years of drafting experience to use when trying to see which way he could lean in this upcoming draft.
And, right now, it feels like it's impossible to guess what will happen. Sure, everything seems to be pointing towards Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty being the guy at No. 6, but they have so many other needs, and the best positional value for a running back in this draft is in the second or third round. So, it feels like the smartest thing to do would be to go with the best player available with their strategy. But, if Jeanty is there at No. 6, is he then the BPA?
Pete Carroll has been in a situation just like this one before. And, let me tell you, he didn't draft a running back in the first round. in fact, the only time he ever did that with the Seattle Seahawks, was in 2018 when he drafted Rashad Penny.
In fact, that similar situation he was in, could foreshadow the Raiders' 2025 first round pick not being a running back.
Raiders' 2025 pick could be like Seahawks' 2010 pick
Like this year, in 2010, Pete Carroll took over the Seahawks with the intention of turning them into a powerhouse program. And, he did just that, by taking them to two Super Bowls, one win against the Denver Broncos and one loss to the New England Patriots.
Over the span of 13 years, he built that franchise from the ground up through the draft. His teams were very often home grown, and we could see that with the Raiders. But, it all started with his very first pick.
Carroll’s first-ever pick for Seattle was an offensive tackle in 2010, who turned out to be Russell Okung. And, ironically that pick was the No. 6 overall pick in that draft, as is this one this year, in his first year with the Raiders. He wanted to get right to building up the trenches, because in the very next year, he took an offensive tackle in the first round at pick No. 25.
He drafted an offensive lineman in the first round two other times of his 13 seasons tital, with three of those also being defensive linemen. It's clear to see that Carroll wants to build his team through the trenches. When we talk about what the Raiders are, they pretty much have the defensive side of the trenches down. they could use some depth poeces here and there, but that unit is good.
When you talk about the offensive side, the Raiders gave up the seventh most sacks on the season. They also had the worst run game, along with two plays which were top ten in blown blocks, each. So, maybe they want to take a look at the offensive line and repeat what Carroll did with the Seahawks in 2010? Maybe that foreshadows what will happen with the No. 6 overall pick.
Or, maybe none of this means anything. The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away. Things are about to start getting crazy.
Raiders 2025 Mock Draft: Fixing the offense almost instantly and making sure the defense stays elite over time
The Raiders need a draft just like this.
