Cutting guys mid-camp is tough, and it’s harsh. Especially when you’ve got young talent. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Pete Carroll, it’s that he’s not afraid to shake things up. After watching the Raiders’ wide receivers struggle through a brutal 2024 (bottom-tier in almost every stat that matters), Carroll isn’t waiting around for things to magically fix themselves.

If you think flipping the wide receiver room mid-camp is a long shot, think again. That is exactly what Pete Carroll just did in Vegas. Two wideouts out, two new ones in. But here’s where it gets interesting: this move might only be the beginning. If what Carroll’s building in Vegas is any indication, then this double swap is just the first domino to fall.

The Raiders shook things up in a big way this week, pulling off a rare mid-camp double switch at wide receiver. Zakhari Franklin and Key’Shawn Smith were shown the door, while Seth Williams and Phillip Dorsett II got the call-up. For fans expecting a quiet July, it was a surprise. But for Pete Carroll? It might seem like panic, but no. He’s out here making a statement.

Undoubtedly, last year’s WR group dragged the entire offense down. Outside of Jakobi Meyers, who quietly posted 1,027 yards on 87 catches, there just wasn’t much to get excited about. Tre Tucker had his flashes but couldn’t stay consistent, and Franklin and Smith were almost non-factors.

The Raiders ended up 26th in total passing yards and bottom five in YAC per catch. Gardner Minshew averaged just 223.4 passing yards a game in 2024, and a lot of that came down to receivers who couldn’t separate, stretch the field, or keep drives alive when it mattered.

The new arrivals? They bring in something the Raiders didn’t possess last season. Seth Williams, fresh off a solid UFL stint with 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adds size and physicality at 6’2”. And then there’s Phillip Dorsett II, the seasoned vet with serious wheels and over 2,000 NFL yards to his name. He’s not here to fill a spot. It’s Dorsett’s familiarity with Pete Carroll’s playbook that makes this signing particularly strategic.

This isn’t your typical mid-camp tinkering. It’s Pete Carroll sending a message loud and clear. The wide receiver room won’t be allowed to drag this offense down in 2025—not again. Cutting two guys before full-contact practices, even rolling? That’s not subtle. That’s Carroll saying: show up, stand out, or start packing. And revamping the WR corps wasn’t the only idea Carroll had in mind.

The WR revamp wasn’t the only move Pete Carroll made

While the wide receiver moves grabbed most of the headlines, Carroll wasn’t just focused on fixing the offense. On that same busy day, he made a few quiet-but-crucial additions to the other side of the ball, too. The Raiders signed three-time Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, along with safety JT Woods and guard Atonio Mafi.

Jamal Adams is back with the coach who knows how to get the best out of him. After four years together in Seattle, the reunion in Vegas feels like it was almost meant to be. Sure, injuries limited him to just five games last year, but his résumé still pops: 501 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 36 passes defensed. More than stats, though, Adams brings fire. With the Raiders likely rolling out a revamped secondary, Carroll is banking on Adams to inject that trademark edge that the Raiders have missed.

JT Woods might not be a headline grabber but don’t sleep on what he brings to the table. A former third-rounder with the Chargers, Woods has that classic Pete Carroll appeal: long, rangy, and versatile. He hasn’t played since 2023, but he fits the mold of those hybrid safety/CB types Carroll loved developing in Seattle. With the Raiders leaning into multiple DB looks this season, Woods would add sneaky value. Especially in nickel sets.

These moves aren’t DIY additions. Every move is strategic. The Raiders, under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, did some serious rebuilding this offseason. First came Jeremy Chinn and Lonnie Johnson Jr., and now Carroll brings in a tone-setter like Jamal Adams.

And honestly? That makes sense when you look at last year. The secondary was in disarray last year. Missed assignments, busted coverages, and way too many big plays surrendered. Carroll knows that can’t happen again.