The biggest storyline around the Raiders going into the new league year is, without question, the matter of their quarterback room.
After missing out on Matthew Stafford a week ago, the Raiders are back to the drawing board at quarterback and at least one report since Stafford decided to return to the Rams has suggested the Raiders aren’t likely to make a big splash at quarterback ahead of the draft.
More accurately, the Raiders would probably be willing to make a “big splash” at quarterback, but their options appear to be limited.
Sam Darnold is a name that keeps coming up as an option, but there might not be any teams willing to make a huge financial commitment to a veteran quarterback many consider a one-year wonder in Minnesota.
The Raiders could still make a move to trade for a quarterback, and according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, there is one trade option currently not on the table that Tom Brady and company would love to have a discussion about.
Asked on his daily podcast this week who the Raiders would be interested in trading for in a perfect scenario, Carpenter didn’t hesitate.
“J.J. McCarthy for sure. If J.J. McCarthy was available, I believe the Raiders would jump on him. I’m not guessing there either. They would jump at JJ McCarthy,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “But it’s a matter of does he become available? What happens with Sam Darnold? Do they franchise [Darnold], which is only a one-year deal, which [then] they shouldn’t get rid of [McCarthy] or do they give him a long-term deal? We’ll see where that all goes.”
According to league insider Tony Pauline, the Raiders are more likely to end up with Darnold, and there is still a chance they might try to move up in the draft to get Cam Ward.
Based on what Pauline is hearing, it sounds like it’s head coach Pete Carroll who would like to bring Darnold to Vegas.
“After losing out on Matthew Stafford, what will the Las Vegas Raiders do next? There are still persistent rumors they may try to trade up for a quarterback in the draft. People close to Sam Darnold tell me that Raiders coach Pete Carroll will work to make a move to acquire the quarterback from the Vikings,” Pauline reported on Saturday.
After the way things went down with Bears head coach Ben Johnson in January, it’s worth remembering what ESPN’s Adam Schefter has been saying about the quarterback situation in Las Vegas for the last few weeks.
Schefter has been adamant that Vegas is a potential landing spot for Darnold and a report on Monday indicated the Vikings do not plan to use the franchise tag on Darnold. That means Darnold is on course to enter free agency in less than two weeks.
It sounds like there is still a chance Darnold will return to Minnesota on a discounted deal and it’s possible, albeit unlikely, that if Darnold signs a multi-year contract with the Vikings, McCarthy could become available at the cost of a king’s ransom.
Hypothetically, two first-round picks would probably be the Vikings asking price for McCarthy. Maybe more.
But in related news, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit was on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, and he said all signs as of now are that the Vikings are all in on McCarthy…
x: @raidersbeat
Last year’s draft was full of QB prospects. This year, are we just hoping there is someone that fits the bill? Is there really someone who is a true standout? Cam Ward…MAYBE. Hope and reality. Fix one side of the ball first. Don’t give away a thing for Cam Ward because it’s implausible he’ll be THE QB that saves the Raiders. Focus on the D this year. We’ll be in the same position next year regardless of who we select. Free Agency is a better option at QB. Free agency for QB, Free Agency to fill in gaping holes in the O Line and Free Agency to pick up another receiver. Go young on the D side of the ball and get a true stand out at 6
Anyone that doesn’t realize the last three Vikings games problems were entirely on their OL. They had no run game and zero protection. Sound familiar?