After a few months of silence around the Raiders quarterback room, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that the Raiders have been scouting draft-eligible quarterbacks closely and would consider taking a quarterback at pick 17(
Yes, it’s a familiar narrative, but what inspired the report now, as opposed to being an ongoing narrative over the last several weeks?
There are three possible explanations.
The Raiders want to draft a quarterback to replace Derek Carr..
This is about as unlikely as any scenario to take place in the draft. The draft stage in Cleveland probably has a better chance of falling in. Sure, the Raiders could do like the Packers did a year ago and draft a quarterback high, but taking the best available player in the first round isn’t a luxury they have at the moment. Also, it isn’t that common that the best available player will be a quarterback at pick 17. If anything, quarterbacks tend to be drafted too early.
The Raiders want someone to trade ahead of them for a quarterback.
This scenario makes a lot of sense. The more quarterbacks that are drafted before pick 17 means the chances are greater that a preferred tackle or safety will fall to the Raiders.
The Raiders would like to trade back from pick 17.
If a quarterback does fall to the Raiders, they need to create the illusion that they might draft him. If teams don’t believe Jon Gruden will draft a quarterback, the Raiders lose trade leverage. Notice the teams drafting directly after the Raiders in the first round are (18) Miami, (19) Washington, and (20) Chicago. There is a good chance the Raiders are sending a message to those teams (and the rest of the league) that pick 17 is where they need to be to get a quarterback falling in the draft.
One other note. If the Raiders wanted a quarterback at pick 17, there is no way they release a message to NFL media similar to what Rapoport reported on Friday. Conversely, if the Raiders were trying to hide their interest in drafting a quarterback, it is highly unlikely that Rapoport would have been given the green light from the team to put out such a message.
A national insider doesn’t reach the pinnacle of his or her career by leaking draft agendas.
Enjoy the draft, everyone!
twitter: @raidersbeat
I agree. Total smokescreen.
If you check the calendar it shows this time of year is the NFL Lying Season