The Las Vegas Raiders are on the verge of moving off longtime quarterback Derek Carr following a disastrous 2022 season for both the organization and the team.
Carr was benched late in the campaign, only to leave the team. It came after Carr posted a 6-9 record in 15 starts while matching his career high in interceptions with 14.
Following the Raiders’ ugly 6-11 season, Carr said his goodbyes via social media with an emotional post focusing on his nine seasons with the organization and what his future will hold.
As for the Raiders, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler will now be looking for a new quarterback this offseason. They can get out from Carr’s contract, via a trade or release, while saving nearly $30 million against the cap.
- Derek Carr contract: 3 years, $121.5 million contract; $5.63 million dead cap hit in 2023
There’s going to be a ton of options at the Raiders’ disposal in free agency, the trade block and during the 2023 NFL Draft. Here, we look at four ideal Las Vegas Raiders quarterback options.
Related: Non-quarterback needs for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason
Raiders add Jimmy Garoppolo as stopgap option
Unlike Carr, the Raiders’ brass has a built-in relationship with this Super Bowl quarterback dating back to their days together with the New England Patriots. Set to become a free agent in March and currently sidelined to injury, Garoppolo would be seen as an upgrade in Sin City.
- Jimmy Garoppolo stats (2022): 67% completion, 2,437 yards, 18 total TD, 4 INT, 103.0 QB rating
Garoppolo making sweet music with Davante Adams would spice things up a bit in Sin City. He’d come without having to move draft capital in a trade. The Raiders could also exhaust a first-round pick on a quarterback of the future in this scenario.
Related: Jimmy Garoppolo and the top NFL free agents of 2023
Minshew Mania heads to the Las Vegas Raiders
There’s a strong belief that Gardner Minshew, currently the Philadelphia Eagles’ backup behind Jalen Hurts, will land a QB1 job in free agency this coming March. For good reason. The former late-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars has more than proven himself capable of being a starter in the NFL.
Minshew, 26, just threw for 355 yards in Hurts’ stead against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. Throughout his career, the Washington State product has tallied 46 total touchdowns against 15 interceptions since entering the league back in 2019. That seems pretty darn good.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders standing in Sportsnaut’s final NFL power rankings
Tom Brady finally lands with the Las Vegas Raiders
We’ve read the reports. Tom Brady was seemingly set to head to Sin City after he opted to leave the New England Patriots following the 2019 season. Unfortunately, owner Mark Davis nixed the deal with the seven-time Super Bowl champion ultimately signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Set to turn 46 in August, Brady will become a free agent this coming spring. There’s a real solid chance that he’ll leave the Buccaneers. And if the quarterback opts to return to the NFL for another season, the Raiders would make sense.
Ziegler and McDaniels were with the Patriots during the bulk of Brady’s legendary career with the team. That type of relationship can’t go unnoticed. In this scenario, Brady heads to Vegas as a one or two year option while the Raiders draft an heir-apparent.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders’ Derek Carr and the NFL’s highest-paid QBs
Raiders pull off blockbuster NFL Draft trade
Vegas currently boasts the seventh pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s likely not good enough to add one of the top-two quarterbacks in the class in that of Alabama’s Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud from Ohio State.
With that said, Ziegler and Co. could offer up a bounty to move up for one of these two signal callers — adding a quarterback of the future in the process. With Vegas seemingly hell-bent on retaining McDaniels long term, acquiring a young signal caller could make all the sense in the world. It will be all about cost. But this scenario could enable the Las Vegas Raiders to add a stopgap option while the youngster learns the nuances of the professional football world.