2025 NFL Season Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think you can kick the can down the road and expect that the team will draft at the top next season. There were seven teams with 5 or less wins this season and a team needs to be in the top 3 typically to have a chance at the top QB's. Raiders won't make the playoffs next season but if things go well they could win 5 or 6 games which isn't going to likely net them a franchise QB unless it's one of those special drafts where elite QB's are a plenty. They already have 10 picks in the 2025 draft and have over $100 million in cap space and can easily upgrade the OL and address a few other positions but free agency isn't going to solve their QB issue.

It all depends on if the Raiders think the 2027 draft is as good for QBs as it's been talked about.

They will be behind the Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers in the division either way, and if they have more than 4 wins I'd be surprised. Likely picking top 5 again either way.

[browna]

The only pause for Raiders fans is the same group that decided Kelly and PC and Geno were setting themselves up for success 365 days(or less) ago, are making the same decisions now.

PC had a dynamic duo with Schneider with both of them making the personnel calls, and the Seahawks had Charlie Whitehurst as QB when he started. Besides being 15 years younger, he also had an owner who wasn’t going to meddle. So, him brought in to the Raiders, not quite sure the plan. Geno was good three years ago, but as he aged he thought he had it all figured out.

With a GM he wasn’t on the same page with, a meddling owner and then toss in the Brady factor, this didn’t seem like a good fit without a long term plan of stability. So now what does Davis and Brady suddenly think is the formula for success? Flores setup a defense and Daboll get a guy like Dart (who he was reckless with)?

Raiders are a sexy team to go to, the city and weather and Brady etc etc but tossing a rookie QB as the franchise saviour with a GM who is on the hot seat, it’s not clear whether their is a long term plan. Not sure the Raiders executive and ownership have that patience to build something over a minimum of 3 years. As Davis gets older it’s likely he’s going to be less patient, not more.

[Erick Estrada]

Davis is hands off. He's leaving the coach hire to Brady and Spytec (who is not on the hotseat as he was hand picked by Brady and are friends that date back to college). Brady went hard after Ben Johnson last year which we can all declare was the guy to get and when he went to Chicago they had to pivot and Carroll was an experienced coach with winning pedigree. It was plan B but a sound plan that Pete could at the very least install a positive culture and they even brought in his QB in Geno Smith and some other ex-Seahawks players and coaches. Problem is that Smith wasn't just bad, but worst in the league bad and Pete's son is probably the worst OL coach in the history of the NFL. Pete fired Kelly and McMahon while retaining the coach that was overseeing the worst position group on the team by far. The whole thing was more Pete's failure than the organization's which is why they wasted no time in firing him as last year they at least had meetings and deliberated for days before firing AP. They knew for months that Pete wasn't the guy he used to be and corrected the mistake. Yes it's another one and done but much better than say the Jets retaining Glenn despite being the 2nd worst coach in the NFL last season for continuity sakes which will just ensure that next season is another wasted season for the Jets.

[GirlySports]

Raiders hiring Stefanski would be a good start.

[devo22]

Harbaugh is out in Baltimore.

[transplant99]

He wil have ZERO problems getting a new gig....unless he wants to do TV for a year or something.

[trackercowe]

I wonder if Harbaugh would have any interest going to Kansas City to replace Andy Reid once he eventually retires? Going to coach the best player in the game during his remaining prime years would be an attractive option (despite their cap space issues).

[Senator Clay Davis]

Decent chance Harbaugh sits out this window. The best job is the one he just got fired from, Falcons is somewhat intriguing but the QB situation is a mess. The rest are varying degrees of bad. Maybe something like the Bills comes open, but next year could have more intriguing options.

[browna]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He wil have ZERO problems getting a new gig....unless he wants to do TV for a year or something.

Yeah I think he can call his own shot. This year or next. Unlike McCarthy, I don’t think sitting a year out will have people forget him.

Him available might get some owners with seemingly safe coaches, thinking, for this offseason, including Jerry. Bills, Packers, Eagles, if they are one and done…

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly if I'm the Bills I might do it unless you're in the AFC Championship game.

With no Chiefs, Ravens, or Bengals in the playoffs this should be their opportunity.

If they lose against Jacksonville it's not even a question IMO

[Erick Estrada]

Harbaugh is going to be 64 this year. Sure he could sit out a season, but it just makes him one year closer to his best before a date. I could see the Giants making a big push. The Falcons also look like a decent option.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Him being 64 is why someone like the Giants doesn't really make sense. A situation that is closer to win-now than a rebuild is surely his preference. But him becoming available might cause teams who haven't fired their coaches to do so. If the Bengals weren't such a poverty franchise they would be very wise to go for Harbaugh, he'd be a significant upgrade over Taylor.

[Erick Estrada]

I actually don't think the Giants roster is that bad and they have a top 5 pick to further add to their solid young core of talent. Also he has experience working with a mobile QB. It wouldn't be an expectation to win next season but not realistic to expect with him they would be a playoff team in year two and from there who knows as we are seeing teams turn around pretty quickly in recent times. The problem with the Falcons is that it's a win-now situation with an unsettled QB situation as Cousins will be likely cut in the offseason and Penix hasn't shown he's the answer or that he can even stay healthy.

[ajr4013]

Wrong thread

[Johnny Makarov]

Crap. missed the boat but I'm kinda sad Petey Carroll is gone!

Oh well at least I don't have to see his face on TV anymore!

[savardandjokinen]

I feel like Harbaugh to the Giants makes too much sense

[Erick Estrada]

The Ravens head coach hire is definitely the most interesting because the pressure of day 1 Super Bowl expectations. It will be interesting if they go with an experienced head coach or take a gamble on a rookie head coach in hopes he's the next John Harbaugh.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The fact Harbaugh got fired and nine teams called him, despite their only being six openings, says a lot. If he really wants the Giants he can take it, but he's gonna have more attractive options, including some playoff teams right now who could make move for him with a disappointing end. I would also add Dart is an odd piece as a building block because, while he did show some good signs this year, he's also likely to be out of the league before his rookie contract is done if he doesn't change his approach to playing. Crazy to read he was evaluated for a concussion in half the games he played this year, in addition to the ones he missed because of injury.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Ravens head coach hire is definitely the most interesting because the pressure of day 1 Super Bowl expectations. It will be interesting if they go with an experienced head coach or take a gamble on a rookie head coach in hopes he's the next John Harbaugh.

I think any smart coach will realize that roster's expectations vs very near future ability is not worth that sort of pressure. I think it'll have to be a new, or desperate, guy.


I think firing Harbaugh to appease Lamar, despite his misuse of Henry this season, is a very short-sighted idea.

[ResAlien]

I couldn't disagree more strongly. Stable organization, former MVP QB, overall rock solid roster, and they don’t cycle through management or coaches. The Ravens job is easily the best and most desirable job that's opened up in a long time.

This isn't a rebuild or a trash org, this is a plug and play instant contender.