The Las Vegas Raiders are in the market for a quarterback with NFL free agency set to officially open in a week.
Vegas opted to grant Derek Carr’s request for a release after it was unable to trade him earlier in the offseason. That came after head coach Josh McDaniels and Co. benched Carr late during what was a disastrous 2022 season for the team.
We’ve read multiple reports that the Raiders are not going big-game hunting this offseason, including the unlikelihood that they’re targeting four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. In fact, general manager Dave Zeigler suggested recently that the Raiders’ long-term quarterback situation might not be settled in 2023.
About that? ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports that Raiders team sources have told her they have not eliminated any quarterback options, including former MVP Lamar Jackson.
It’s extremely interesting that this information comes from the Raiders. Earlier on Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson. This enables interested teams to negotiate with Jackson during the NFL free agent tampering period starting on Monday. If said team comes to terms on a deal with Jackson and Baltimore doesn’t match, it is forced to give up two first-round picks.
Like clockwork, reports broke that several quarterback needy teams had no intention of targeting Jackson under the franchise tag. That included the Las Vegas Raiders.
We’re certainly at the silly time of the NFL calendar. But the reports indicating that Vegas isn’t interested in a high-profile quarterback coupled with other suggestions that teams won’t go after Jackson starting early next week has us wondering what exactly is happening here.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders could target two-time Super Bowl Champion QB
Las Vegas Raiders could be playing a game of chicken
Let’s look at this realistically. Vegas is slated to select seventh overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. McDaniels and Co. have made it known that they love the quarterback position in this year’s event.
The Chicago Bears own the first pick in the draft and are potentially nearing a blockbuster trade down from that spot. If Vegas is intent on moving up for someone like C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young, it makes no sense to eliminate other options. That would impact negotiations with the Bears.
Another point of emphasis has to be a previous report suggesting that the Raiders have too many holes to fill to give up multiple picks for an aging quarterback.
“The Raiders just have too many holes on their roster to trade high draft picks for a 39-year-old quarterback, and there appear to [be] other teams like the Jets that would.”
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur on the Las Vegas Raiders’ lack of interest in Aaron Rodgers
This same mentality might not exist for someone like the 26-year-old Lamar Jackson. He wouldn’t be a stopgap option. Rather, the former league MVP would be someone for the Raiders to build around over the long term. Perhaps this changes the dynamics in Sin City.