The Las Vegas Raiders are back to the drawing board in their quarterback search after Matthew Stafford decided to stay with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams previously granted Stafford’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, permission to talk with other teams about a contract for the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. The Raiders, along with the New York Giants, were reportedly willing to offer Stafford a two-year deal worth up to $100 million. Stafford reportedly even had an unplanned conversation with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady while both were in Montana at a ski resort.
However, Stafford spurned Las Vegas and reworked his contract with the Rams to remain in Los Angeles.
It’s not surprising to see why Stafford wouldn’t leave a playoff team in the Rams to go to an underperforming Raiders squad. They finished 4-13 in 2024, cycling through three different quarterbacks in Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, and Carter Bradley. Las Vegas also ended up firing head coach Antonio Pierce and replacing him with Pete Carroll.
The Raiders own the sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and there’s a possibility Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders could fall to them. But they still need a veteran signal-caller for next season.
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NFL insider: Las Vegas Raiders turning attention to two Pro Bowl QBs
After Stafford declined Las Vegas’ advances, The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini reports the Raiders are now interested in Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson.
Darnold resurrected his career with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to a 14-3 record, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, and making his first Pro Bowl team. It’s anticipated he could command upwards of $40 million a year.
As for Wilson, he made 12 starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, including the postseason. He missed the first six weeks of the season with a calf injury. When he returned, the Steelers won six of Wilson’s first seven starts, but lost their last five games, including in the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson threw for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions as he was named to the Pro Bowl for the tenth time in his career.
Wilson would likely serve as more of a stopgap quarterback while Darnold would more likely sign a contract in the three- to four-year range.
No matter the outcome, the Raiders desperately need to upgrade their quarterback room ahead of the 2025 season.
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