It looks the Raiders’ quarterback search has taken a turn. Instead of mounting a full-force pursuit for Tom Brady, the Raiders are now likelier to add a backup type to compete with Derek Carr, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, on Twitter), adding that Marcus Mariota is a Raider target.
The Raiders have been linked to Brady for several weeks, but not much has emerged on that front for a while. And the Titans appear to have moved ahead of the AFC West teams in their run at Brady. Their former first-round pick has options elsewhere.
The Raiders, Patriots and Colts have been connected to Mariota, and Garafolo points out the former Heisman Trophy winner was then-NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock‘s top-rated quarterback in 2015 (Twitter link).
Jon Gruden has sought a potential upgrade on Carr for a while now, and while Mariota does not profile as such, this is nonetheless an interesting development. The Raiders would be able to preserve more of their cap space with a Mariota addition than they would if they were to authorize a $30MM-plus-AAV deal for Brady. Las Vegas is interested in high-priced cornerbacks Byron Jones and Chris Harris.
Both Mariota and Carr peaked in 2016, with the former throwing 26 touchdown passes and the latter finishing third in the MVP voting that season. On Christmas Eve 2016, both players suffered broken legs. Mariota has fallen further than Carr since, totaling just 24 TD tosses in 29 games from 2017-18 and being benched for Ryan Tannehill midway through what became a Titans AFC championship game run last season. Carr finished 2019 with the best QBR (63.7, 10th in the league) of his career, doing so after the Raiders’ offense lost would-be No. 1 wide receiver Antonio Brown just before the season.
No! Teddy Bridgewater is a much better choice.
In a vacuum sure. But Bridgewater is likely to cost around 30 mil per year while Mariota should go for around 5-10 mil. Mariota could be a good reclamation project in the Tannehill mold if a decent coach can get his confidence back. He hasn’t looked the same since he snapped his leg in two a few years back.
They also probably have kicked the tires on trading Carr and because there’s a surplus of starting caliber FA QBs, why would anyone trade for one? So what will happen is they whiff on Brady and then some other team has already signed Mariota if they like him.
Mariota wants somewhere between 16 and 20 million.
yeah, and so do i
Hahaha I just want my student loans paid for
Mariota isn’t getting that kind of money. When a draft pick that high loses his job before his rookie deal expires that’s a red flag. Anyone who signs him is just taking a flyer on him in hopes he can turn it around. He’ll get paid backup money and if he can prove it then he gets paid
$30M? For a backup?
Bridgewater can and will be starting for someone next year
Yeah .. but he is too skinny and Fragile.
I think Bridgewater goes to NE. I see other fits but I feel it’s a good place for him. Doesn’t really take a lot of risk, smart with the ball and easily lead a team to at least the playoffs if they add some talent on offense. The defense is for sure good enough to do their part. Bucs seem like another option. Actually think the Bucs make most sense. Mariota to the Bears to push Trubisky makes more sense than the Raiders. Carr really isn’t what bad. He had a solid year without a top WR.
I’m an unabashed Carr supporter, and I am 100 percent on board with this. Mariota could be a great fit for Gruden, he is younger than Carr, and should provide the competition for Carr’s spot that I know a lot of fans believe it is time for. If Carr can’t beat out Mariota, then it is time for a change.
Carr needs a #1 WR target before they cast him off in my opinion
Mariota just needs a coach that will actually develop him
chip!
Chucky couldn’t develop Shaun King or Chris Sims so why would anyone think he can make Mariota better?
Because Mariota brings a lot more potential to the table? I mean, his college stats blow Simms’ and King’s away.