The Raiders have found their new head coach in Pete Carroll, and one of the next major challenges in Las Vegas is going to the matter of their quarterback situation.
As of now, second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell is at the top of the Raiders’ depth chart at quarterback and Gardner Minshew is considered by many a candidate to be cut before the start of the new league year.
Pete Carroll would have presented a plan at quarterback to the Raiders during his interview process, and one name to watch, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, is Russell Wilson.
The relationship between Carroll and Wilson has been complicated since they went to two Super Bowls together in Seattle, but it sounds like the two are on better terms more recently.
For all the noise around Wilson over the last two years, he has thrown 42 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 26 games. His future in Pittsburgh is uncertain and it might end up that Las Vegas is an option he would consider.
If the 36-year-old Wilson ultimately ends up in Vegas, he would join the oldest head coach in the NFL with one of the youngest overall rosters (although the Raiders do have a long list of free agents on their roster moving into next year).
Tom Brady played in the NFL until he was 44, so he isn’t likely to be discouraged by the idea of bringing Wilson into the locker room at 36.
Wilson was on the Pat McAfee Show earlier this week and he didn’t sound like someone ready for retirement. He also didn’t sound like a player looking to leave the Steelers.
“Obviously, this year was an exciting year in a lot of ways,” Wilson told McAfee. “It was tough at the end, obviously. We didn’t get it done, but I’ve got so much more in me, man. I’m excited. My goal is to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a long time, hopefully finish my career there, God willing. I’m just trusting God and the process.”
“Yes, we have been starting to talk a little bit,” Wilson continued. “Obviously, we’ve had our meetings and everything else. We’re kind of just getting into it. I think that it’s an exciting time, obviously, to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and the opportunity of what we can do. I think at the same time, Omar [Khan] and coach Tomlin, I really love those guys, and who they are, and the team that we can put together.”
With a veteran like Wilson on the roster, the Raiders could go the route of investing in a late-round quarterback in the draft or trading for a developmental quarterback while letting Wilson hold down the starting job for the immediate future.
Brady has talked in the past about the importance of letting young quarterbacks learn on the sideline, so it would make sense that he would take that approach in Las Vegas now that he has become one of the most influential voices in the building.
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Would rather try to sign Justin Fields than Russell. bring in a veteran QB who can and will mentor a younger QB. I don’t see Russell doing that.
I think your spot on in your analysis of Russ. He doesn’t strike me as the mentor type and that’s why you bring in a veteran QB for, leadership. I watched a lot of Steeler games at the end of the season, they had no leaders on the field, at least on offense. Russ couldn’t even keep his star receiver focused. Fields would have to be matched to the right OC, but I like his upside and he still hasn’t been given his chance. He had a year with Luke Getsy as his OC, that’s a major setback to anyone.