After signing Gardner Minshew in free agency, some may feel like the Las Vegas Raiders have already addressed their need for a new quarterback. But there’s a reason why Minshew, even after his mild success with the Colts last season, is viewed as a high-end backup QB.
Minshew showed he can help get a team to the playoffs, but expecting anything more out of the 27-year-old may be asking too much out of the former sixth-round pick. The only other option on the roster is 25-year-old former undrafted quarterback Anthony Brown Jr., who’s made two appearances in the NFL.
In other words, the Raiders will be drafting a quarterback, it’s only a mater of when. Even after adding Minshew, the Raiders’ biggest need still revolves around finding a potential QB of the future instead of soldiering on with a couple stopgap solutions like they currently have. But to find a QB with high upside, they may have to trade up.
The Raiders are far from the only team still looking to find a new starting QB for the 2024 season. Making matters worse, they’re not even the only team in the AFC West desperate for an upgrade. And the worst part? The Raiders are behind both the Vikings and Broncos in the NFL draft order.
While most of the NFL Draft rumors focus on whether or how high the Minnesota Vikings will have to trade up, what about the Broncos and Raiders?
After moving on from Derek Carr and now Jimmy Garoppolo, plus hiring a new coach, the Raiders may feel that sense of urgency to make a big move. Yet, for some of those same reasons (moving on from Russell Wilson, pressure to win under Coach Payton), the Broncos may feel compelled to swing for the fences too. With so much uncertainty ahead, draft day will be really exciting for fans of the Raiders, Broncos, and Vikings.
