Pete Carroll places full trust in Geno Smith’s offensive weapons with the Raiders

The upcoming NFL season is shaping up to be a potential turning point for a Las Vegas Raiders franchise that has struggled to find stability in recent years. A fresh start has arrived with the addition of Pete Carroll, who believes in Geno Smith and the rest of the roster to help position the team as legitimate title contenders.

Both Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers are key pillars in the Raiders‘ offense at the tight end position, expected to be major assets for Smith. While the former Georgia Bulldog had an impressive campaign last season, HC Carroll remains confident in what Mayer can bring to the team thanks to his strong preparation and work ethic.

During a recent conversation with the media, the veteran coach shared his thoughts on how the former Notre Dame standout has been performing, stating that he could be a significant contributor to the offense starting in Week 1.

“I thought Mike had a great offseason with us,” Carroll said in his press conference late last week. “We started out going heart to heart and him [understanding] what we’re all about, and he embraced it and took it as well as anybody could take the challenge of bringing it day in and day out.

Michael Mayer #87 of the Las Vegas Raiders prepares for the start of a play against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 15-9.

“He had a great camp, and he was doing well before Brock got here, and the two of them just went head to head, just trying to make a play here and there and going back and forth. And they were just great contributors.”

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He also added: “It’s a terrific position group for us. Ian Thomas coming in really, really livens it up as well. So, we have a very good position group right there and excited about what they’re going to do, but I thought Michael had a great camp.”

Chip Kelly could use multiple tight ends on the field

Another new face in Las Vegas is Chip Kelly, who joins the team as the new offensive coordinator. Experience and talent are two things the veteran coach brings in abundance — and he sees in Michael Mayer the potential to pair him with another tight end on the field.

“I checked — you can play with two tight ends in a game at the same time, and sometimes you can play with three tight ends they told me,” he said.

While positive results are imperative for this franchise, fans can take comfort in knowing there’s promising talent in place — and the potential to achieve great things in the NFL if the team stays committed to its vision.