Las Vegas Raiders Starting QB Search: Must-See TV
Antonio Pierce And Tom Telesco Have A Chance To Make A Big Splash At The Las Vegas Raiders Starting QB Position This Off-Season
With the hiring of general manager Tom Telesco, Las Vegas has just thrown its hat into the 'Looking for a Franchise Quarterback Pool,' and there are plenty of options in both free agency and the NFL Draft. The big question is whether the team will invest big money in a free agent, trade for a veteran, or find the next guy in the draft. Below, I've gone through all three scenarios and come up with who I think is the best option from each avenue.
Free Agency Target: Kirk Cousins
Previous Team: Minnesota Vikings
Before getting injured, Cousins put together a solid campaign and was in the middle of turning his team around after a poor start to the year. Cousins has shown that he can lead teams successfully into the playoffs and win playoff games both on the road and at home. I was not much of a fan of his until last year when he was able to bring his team back from being down 33 - 0 to the Colts at halftime to win the game in overtime 39 - 36. That game showed me that no matter the score, time, or opponent, Kirk Cousins is going to give his team everything he has to win the game. The Raiders need a leader like that, especially at the quarterback position - something they've been missing for the last year or so.
He is more than likely going to command over $40 million per year, fully guaranteed, which is a big red flag for most owners in this league. However, Mark Davis should really think long and hard about this investment. Paying big money upfront may help the team 10 years down the road. This means that if Cousins signed with the Raiders, then Aidan O'Connell would be able to sit behind one of the best and learn the game the right way. That would be a huge help for the Raiders' future. I know that most fans want the team to draft the future QB this year, but I really liked what I saw from Aidan O'Connell last year.
If the Raiders would follow in the footsteps of the Green Bay Packers and actually give a young QB time to develop instead of throwing him into the fire like most teams do, O'Connell could turn into something special. This option might be the one least likely to happen, but if Cousins wants to play for a team, then there is also the possibility they don't have to break the bank to sign him.
Trade for a Veteran Quarterback Target: Justin Fields
Previous Team: Chicago Bears
Justin Fields has been a name associated with the Raiders since the Panthers secured the #1 overall pick for the Chicago Bears via a trade. Now the big question is: who will the Bears pick? Most people believe that the Bears will select a quarterback at number 1 and will try their best to trade Fields before the draft. No matter what, the price for Fields will still be pretty steep. Do the Raiders have enough trade capital to make it happen? If the price is right, it can't hurt to kick the tires on the idea. Fields has shown that he can play at a high level, but if you're going to make a trade like this, why not trade up in the draft and get a QB to start fresh?
Trade Up In Draft: Caleb Williams/Drake Maye/Jayden Daniels
Previous Teams: USC/UNC/LSU
Of course, this would be a dream for Raider Nation: bringing in a talented QB from the draft to kick off the Antonio Pierce/Tom Telesco era. However, it's going to take a lot for the team to move into the top 3, and they have to be 100% sure that this is their guy. If they have any reservations about any of these guys, then they should not make a trade of this magnitude. These types of trades can work wonders for teams if the player they draft is the right player for that team.
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The most likely scenario would be the Raiders trading up to either the 2nd or 3rd pick and selecting Jayden Daniels. I just feel that the 1st overall pick will be too much to trade for. I'm guessing it's going to take 2 or 3 1st-round picks, 1 or 2 2nd-round picks, and maybe a player or 2 to complete the trade. I personally believe that they shouldn't give up that much for one player, but as I stated above, with the new staff assembling in Las Vegas, they're going to have to make a splash somewhere to get the Raider Nation excited! As a fan, nothing will get us more excited than stability at the quarterback position because we've had only one stable QB (Derek Carr) since the Rich Gannon era, and enough is enough.
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The Raider Nation is, by far, the best fan base in the NFL, and we deserve to have some success in this league. We've been loyal, passionate, and angry for the past 20-plus years. It's time for something to change, and hiring Antonio Pierce was a good start.
Now, Mark Davis needs to build off this momentum and make the right move at the quarterback position. Maybe the best thing for Mr. Davis is to stay out of the personnel and let Telesco do his thing - remember, he drafted Justin Herbert, and he's done pretty well in this league so far. Nonetheless, the quarterback situation in Las Vegas will be must-see TV!
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