Unsurprisingly, both Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek are in attendance at the 2025 NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis this week.
Over the course of this week, Carroll, Spytek and other Raiders coaches and staff will get an up-close viewing on many of the top prospects in this draft class. They will have the opportunity to see how potential draft targets stack up with each other athletically, as well as conduct interviews and medical evaluations. This will serve as the best indication yet of which direction the Raiders are leaning in the draft, opening up more information to base speculation on.
Before the festivities officially kick off on Thursday, however, Carroll and Spytek were both available to the media on Tuesday to field questions.
Carroll and Spytek provided key information as it pertains to the state of the Raiders this offseason.
With the focus being on the combine, both were asked about the Raiders’ potential plans on how they intend to attack the draft.
“I will be remiss if I did not start with compete, you know that has been his [Carroll’s] central thing,” said Spytek. “I think you know, we are going to have a lot of positive energy.”
“The guys that love to compete and play with passion are going to have a chance at our place. And the guys that maybe do not have that love for the game, they like it, it means to an end, there probably will not be as many places or spaces of them at our place.”
Another topic that was brought up during the interviews was any plans on free agents, as well as the status of edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The Pro Bowler has been the subject of trade rumors over the past few months due to his contract situation, and reporters wanted to know if there was any possibility of him being available. Spytek, in particular, quickly attempted to dispel said rumors.
“I don’t want to make any predictions or speak too much about that. I just would say I have an immense amount of respect for Maxx number one, the way he plays the game, the passion he plays with. This is what Pete and I have talked about,” Spytek commented.
“I mean, we want that to be what a Raider looks like, and he’s a great shining example of that, too. And he’s also a really skilled and talented player on top of it too. So, I envision Maxx being a Raider for a long time here, and I think that’s what he wants too. We’ll go forward with that in mind.”
Lastly, the influence of Tom Brady remains a key factor, even at the Combine. The Raiders minority owner has provided his input in several decisions already this offseason, including the decisions to bring in Carroll and Spytek. Needless to say, both continued to give glowing praise to the future Hall of Famer’s involvement in team operations.
“He’s available every day yet he’s got a whole other world he’s working on. So he consults with us and is really tuned in to what’s happening,” said Carroll.
“(GM John Spytek) keeps track of him every step of the way. I feel free and comfortable to call him and text him at any time. We’re responding regularly. It’s been great… He’s really clear, his vision of how he would hope to see this go and how he would like to influence it wherever he can. There is no mistaking it at all.”
Carroll and Spytek, as well as other coaches and executives around the league, now prepare for one of the most challenging yet rewarding stretches of the calendar year.
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