The Raiders finalized a four-years contract over $160 million with the Steelers quarterback.
The Raiders finalized a four-years contract over $160 million with the Steelers quarterback.
Raiders draft: Thoughts on quarterback situation
There very likely won’t be a Day 1 rookie starter in Las Vegas
The main narrative of a night that saw the Las Vegas Raiders choose Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall choice in an unexpected move, is that the team will enter this draft without a top quarterback prospect.
Let’s examine its meaning:
AOC or Minshew, that is:
The Raiders’ starting quarterback in Week 1 will most likely be either free agency acquisition Gardner Minshew or second-year incumbent Aidan O’Connell. When Minshew was signed on the first day of free agency, that was the soft plan. But it’s practically a lock now. Given that Minshew is receiving low-level starting money, we would assume that he is the favorite. Nevertheless, there will be competition during preseason and training camp. Whoever wins the position must demonstrate sufficient qualifications to hold it over the long run.
Close off:
The story of the entire draft was that six quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks. That’s ridiculous. Who knows if Michael Penix (who went No. 8 to Atlanta) or Bo Nix (who went No. 12 to Denver) would have been the Raiders’ choice if they were on the board at No. 13. But, in my mind, the Raiders may have dodged bullets. These guys were over drafted and are no sure things. The value just wasn’t there and the Raiders’ decision was made up for them before they got the chance. So for all the Jayden Daniels and Penix talk, the Raiders never got the chance. After the draft, Las Vegas general manager Tom Telesco said the Raiders didn’t try “particularly hard” to trade up for a quarterback, although there was a report that they tried to get Penix. I think they were lucky to get rebuffed.
d.
Who’s left?
The reaches at the position will likely continue Friday because of demand. The next quarterbacks taken will likely be in the third tier which consists of Spencer Rattler (south Carolina), Michael Pratt (Tulane) and Jordan Travis (Florida State). It won’t be a shock if the Raiders take one of these three quarterbacks. All three, though, may be reaches in the second round, but it’s now very plausible that Rattler goes in the second round. Whoever is the Raiders choice, will be a developmental option for 2025 unless they have an unexpected fast rise to the field.
