Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll helped resurrect Geno Smith’s career in Seattle. Now, one Seahawks reporter who covered Carroll believes the veteran coach may be interested in another quarterback reclamation project with Anthony Richardson.
Meanwhile, coming off injury, Malcolm Koonce is off to a slow start in his recovery, and Alex Cappa returned to practice for a battle at right guard.
Seahawks Reporter Connects Pete Carroll to Anthony Richardson Trade
On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback over Richardson — a move that immediately sparked trade speculation.
Shortly after the announcement, Emerald Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith suggested a trade that would land Richardson in Las Vegas, citing Carroll’s affinity for the third-year signal-caller and his proven track record of developing quarterbacks.
The connection isn’t purely speculative. After the 2023 draft, Carroll told reporters he gave “tremendous consideration” to drafting Richardson when Indianapolis selected him with the No. 4 overall pick — just one spot ahead of Seattle.
The timing could work for Las Vegas. With roster cuts approaching, Aidan O’Connell and rookie sixth-rounder Cam Miller are battling to be the primary backup quarterback, but both struggled in Week 2 of the preseason. Carroll and his staff still need to decide on their No. 2 spot.
Malcolm Koonce Coming Along Slowly From Torn ACL
Even though Koonce sat out the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL, Las Vegas re-signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal — a clear sign of faith in his potential return.
However, Koonce is still working his way back from the knee injury. On the “Just Win Podcast,” The Athletic’s Tashan Reed explained why the pass rusher hasn’t generated much buzz this offseason.
“It definitely looks like he’s still coming along,” Reed said. “The reason why you haven’t heard much is he hasn’t been doing much in practice either.”
Reed’s co-host Ted Nguyen offered his perspective on Koonce’s current form, noting both positives and concerns.
“I like his hand usage,” Nguyen said. “I like what he’s doing from a pass rush plan. But for a player his size, he needs that explosive step. It might take a little time for him to get that, but it just doesn’t look like it’s quite there yet right now.”
If Koonce bounces back to look like the player who logged six sacks between Weeks 15 and 18 of the 2023 season, he’ll command a massive pay raise as a free agent next year. The fourth-year pro may simply need more time to return to pre-injury form.
Alex Cappa Returns to Practice
Alex Cappa returned to practice after missing most of training camp with a rib injury, jumping back into a heated position battle at right guard.
Reed noted that Cappa took second-team reps upon his return. Given his extended absence, he faces an uphill battle to beat out Jackson Powers-Johnson for the starting job.
Cappa could even be on the roster bubble if the team decides to keep impressive rookie Laki Tasi, a former rugby player, on the 53-man roster.
As roster cuts loom, these position battles — from quarterback depth to the offensive line — will define how Carroll shapes his first Raiders squad.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
