As the curtain comes down on the 2023 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves at a critical fork in the road. In a league increasingly dependent on the quarterback position, the team is in urgent need of a dynamic playmaker under center.
In fact, while it has other things to fix, the Raiders must make finding their franchise quarterback of the future the top priority of this offseason.
All anyone in Raider Nation has had to do to arrive at this conclusion is watching the Raiders over the past two games. While they won the Kansas City game on Christmas Day, the loss to the Colts was both a lesson in self-destruction (penalties) and a reminder they have a massive capabilities gap at quarterback.
Yes, they need a permanent general manager. Yes, they also need a head coach. But without a playmaking quarterback, the Raiders will continue to languish.
While the Raiders and interim head coach Antonio Pierce absolutely did the right thing in going the remainder of the season with fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell as their starter, who has shown poise and maturity for a first-year player, his limitations have become glaringly clear. That underscores the need for Las Vegas to prioritize finding their starting quarterback in order to elevate them to a playoff contender and eventual championship caliber team.
Aidan O’Connell was a good gamble in 2023 but not the answer
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, O’Connell impressed during the preseason and when the Jimmy Garoppolo disaster unfolded, turning to him was a wise move. He has showcased talent, poise and a great work ethic. While his 2023 statistics are solid, they also paint a picture of a quarterback who doesn’t have the playmaking ability the Raiders desperately need.
O’Connell has thrown for a modest 1,974 yards, completed 62% of his passes, thrown 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. His quarterback rating (36.9) is 26th in the league and all of these key indicators point to him being a competent pro worth developing but an unspectacular option to build an offense around.Â
O’Connell’s lack of dynamism was particularly evident in the past two weeks, where the Raiders’ offense seemed predictable and constrained. In critical moments, O’Connell’s inability to extend plays or make game-changing throws was glaring. The NFL, with its ever-evolving landscape, demands quarterbacks who can not only manage games but also tilt the field in their team’s favor. The Raiders, despite possessing a vastly improved defense and a solid group of offensive weapons, have not been able to overcome O’Connell’s deficiencies.
The NFL has become a league of functionally mobile quarterbacks who all make dynamic plays and are able to create downfield by leaving the pocket and making things happen. O’Connell doesn’t have the skillset of a Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes or CJ Stroud. This is why the Raiders must prioritize finding a quarterback who can create plays with his legs.
Related: Las Vegas Raidres standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
The Las Vegas Raiders must prioritize finding the best quarterback possible
The pursuit of a dynamic and functionally mobile quarterback must be the Raiders’ top priority heading into the 2024 season. The upcoming NFL Draft is rife with talent, with several prospects exhibiting the potential to be franchise cornerstones. Quarterbacks like USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniles and Oregon’s Bo Nix are already drawing comparisons to established stars, thanks to their arm strength, mobility, and football IQ. One of these top young quarterbacks could inject the kind of energy and playmaking ability the Raiders must have to take the next step.
Additionally, the trade market offers interesting veteran quarterback possibilities. Justin Fields, for instance, represents an archetype of the modern, dual-threat quarterback. His time with the Chicago Bears has been a showcase of raw talent and potential, despite being hampered by a lack of supporting cast.
Fields’ ability to create plays both in and out of the pocket, coupled with his experience and pure athleticism, makes him an attractive target for the Raiders. His career stats, showing steady improvement in passing efficiency and rushing ability, suggest a ceiling far higher than what he’s been able to display in Chicago.
Once a new coach is in place, quarterback must be focus of team moving forward
The absolute necessity for the Raiders to draft, trade or sign a dynamic play-making quarterback cannot be overstated. The NFL has changed significantly in just the past five seasons.
The league is rife with teams who changed their misfortunes into playoff dreams because they were able to remake the quarterback position. The Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, the Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen, and the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson are testament to this fact. These teams have consistently been in the mix for the Super Bowl largely due to the exceptional play of their quarterbacks.
On the opposite side of the spectrum are the Raiders. Their recent offensive struggles, including in this week’s loss to Gardner Minshew (functionally mobile QB) and the Colts, underscore the need for a change.
Ranking in the lower tier in total offense (29th of 32) and points scored (25th), the team has often looked out of sync and uninspired. The Raiders’ passing game, in particular, has been lackluster, lacking the explosive plays that define today’s high-scoring NFL offenses.
This despite having one of the best wide receivers in the game in Davante Adams. This inability to score points has been a major factor in their inability to close out games and compete against the NFL’s best teams.
As the Raiders look to build for the future, the blueprint is clear: secure a dynamic quarterback who can elevate the entire team. Not only would a game-changing quarterback bolster the passing game, but it would also open up the running game making the offense more unpredictable and harder to defend. This, in turn, would take pressure off the Raiders newfound surging defense allowing them to play more aggressively.
Although it hasn’t worked in recently, the Raiders’ history is rich with moments of bold moves and game-changing decisions. The time has come for owner Mark Davis to insure his franchise doesn’t fall even further behind. By drafting, trading or signings a dynamic quarterback, they take care of their greatest need. It’s imperative they do this in 2024 or without it, the Raiders risk languishing in mediocrity, while the rest of the league surges ahead.
The 2024 season presents an opportunity – one that the Raiders must seize boldly to redefine their destiny and embark on a path to championship glory.