For a second straight offseason, the Raiders are preparing to acquire a starter-caliber quarterback. The team’s 2023 move — Jimmy Garoppolo — was quickly determined to not be a viable solution. A new Raiders regime will try again.
The Raiders are prepared to acquire a quarterback, according to Antonio Pierce (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur). While it should be expected the team will aim higher than Aidan O’Connell, Pierce said the team’s second-half starter will be given the chance to compete to keep the starting job.
After not needing to pursue QBs for nine straight offseasons, the Raiders cutting Derek Carr changed their equation. They gave ex-Josh McDaniels pupil Garoppolo a three-year, $72.75MM deal. Injuries and poor performance led Garoppolo to the bench after only six starts, moving O’Connell — chosen at the end of the fourth round — into the lineup. O’Connell made 10 starts, winning five of those games. While the Purdue product may be viewed as more of a backup, he remains in the Raiders’ Pierce-Tom Telesco regime’s plans.
It would be a moderate surprise if Brian Hoyer did, given his ties to McDaniels. But the 38-year-old veteran remains under contract for 2024, thanks to the two-year deal he signed after considering retirement. (Designating Garoppolo as a post-June 1 cut would save the Raiders nearly $13MM.) O’Connell’s rookie contract runs through 2026, but the Raiders are already being connected to making another draft investment at the position.
Pierce was on Arizona State’s staff when it recruited and signed Jayden Daniels. The 2023 Heisman winner transferred in 2022, the same year Pierce resigned amid a recruiting scandal. In place as the Raiders’ HC, Pierce was believed to have discussed the prospect of trading up for Daniels during the team’s OC search. The Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick. Although Daniels’ value does not appear set, he is expected to go off the board earlier.
Unlike the Vikings or Buccaneers, the Raiders do not have exclusive negotiating rights with a starter-caliber veteran. Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield cannot speak with other teams until the legal tampering period, which begins March 11. Russell Wilson is expected to be released by the Broncos soon, and the lower his 2024 contract, the bigger — due to offset language — Denver’s dead-money bill. Options like Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett and Sam Darnold are on track to hit the market as well.
Perhaps the most interesting name for the Raiders will be Justin Fields. Working under new Raiders OC Luke Getsy for two years, Fields experienced highs and lows during that partnership. But the Bears are expected to seek a trade partner for the 2021 first-round pick, who can be controlled through 2025 via the fifth-year option. Fields is also not expected to cost a first-round pick, though Chicago asking for one would not surprise. Multiple teams will probably pursue Fields; it would surprise if the Raiders were not one of them.
$28 million dead cap hit to release Jimmy G. Nice work Raiders.
I’m not sure why the Broncos would release Wilson if it saves them no money. It’s not like they have someone better pushing him out.
New management may not like him at all and it’s easier to write off and get rid of him now than to risk him doing annything that might justify or reintroduce any logic toward having to keep him.
It will incur a huge, huge dead cap hit, but it will also save them almost $50 million. They’ll also save whatever is offset by his contract with his next team, even if it’s not a big percentage.
And I don’t think the Raiders are trading for the guy that got Getsy fired.
Couldn’t agree more. I think the Getsy hire means the raiders are out on Fields.
Perhaps they will do a deal with the Patriots for Jones or Zappe and try to transform the guy into another Jim Plunkett.
Unfortunately, Fields is the most appealing name available lol.
Id rather take Baker if we are talking current available NFL QBs. Assuming the bears make fields available.
Anyone else getting a whiff of tank here?
They should get Wilson for league min.. Denver will be stuck with rest of the contract.
What did you see from Wilson that says ‘sign him now.’? Dude is washed up.
He put up good stats last year. Great TD-INT ratio etc, but as a Raider fan Wilson just isn’t a raider. His fake rah rah stuff isn’t what the raiders need nor want. I dont get this sign Wilson stuff, do you? I’d much rather have Kirk Cousins over Wilson if we are talking the older QBs. Yeah, hard pass on Wilson.
Someone please explain why would the Raiders hire Getsy as their OC when he was fired by a non playoff team?
Because they’re the Raiders?
Because Getsy was successful at Green Bay, and has worked extensively with Davante Adams
Trey Lance
Nick Mullins and Josh Dobbs can be had.
Nathan Peterman, come on down!
Mason Rudolph.
Browning for a third?