Raiders' Pete Carroll sounds like he's going to sign a future Hall of Famer in free agency and it makes sense why
The Las Vegas Raiders have so many unrestricted free agents on their roster, around 25 to be exact, and the majority of them are on the defensive side of the ball. They're very likely going to spend quite a bit of money on that side this offseason, especially since new head coach Pete Carroll said […]
The Las Vegas Raiders have so many unrestricted free agents on their roster, around 25 to be exact, and the majority of them are on the defensive side of the ball.
They're very likely going to spend quite a bit of money on that side this offseason, especially since new head coach Pete Carroll said so.
One of the bigger positions they need in free agency is linebacker, where starting middle linebacker Robert Spillane is on track to hit the market when things kick off on March 12. He's the quarterback of the defense, so one would think he'll be high up on the Raiders' list of priorities.
However, there is one guy who is also set to become a free agent that could complicate that, but in a good way and that's future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner, who played under Carroll for 11 seasons. He also played a key role in shaping the Legion of Boom and helped the Seattle Seahawks win its first, and only, Super Bowl.
"I thought it was a remarkable season that he had in many ways," Carroll told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Combine. "I know he was a great asset to Danny [Dan Quinn] putting together the system and the approach and the principles and stuff. We all kind of grew up in the same ways, so the message and the voice that Bobby had on that club, particularly with the quarterback, the relationship that he established, was irreplaceable for them.
"And so I know Bobby is a free agent… You might be surprised how much we all communicate, all the guys from back in the day. We still communicate and watch each other and share stories and the whole thing. It's been really fun to watch our guys. Did you see Marshawn [Lynch] at our press conference?"
Adding a guy like Wagner, who can still play at an effective level, would clearly help the Raiders defense on the field, but it's what he does off the field and in the locker room that matters most. He played a key role in shaping the locker room in Washington and he's basically a coach on the field. He helped a young crew learn Dan Quinn's defense and he could do that for Carroll and Pat Graham in Vegas.
Let's be real: This Raiders roster needs a guy like Wagner. The team hasn't finished with a winning record since 2021, which is also the last time they made the playoffs. As we saw last year with the Commanders, who went from 4-13 in 2023 to 12-5 in 2024, Wagner can help accelerate the growth and learning curve that comes with establishing a new coaching staff and culture. He can also still play effective football, which is big in its own right.
That's as valuable as it gets in today's NFL and it'll be a big surprise if Carroll doesn't make a hard charge at Wagner in free agency.
2025 could see the Las Vegas Raiders finally making the right choice in the NFL Draft
The Raiders would do that in a heartbeat.
