Raiders' Best Long-Term Options at QB to Replace Jimmy Garoppolo
The Las Vegas Raiders are at a disadvantage in the AFC because of their quarterback situation.
The move to sign Jimmy Garoppolo did not work before he got injured. Aidan O'Connell did a decent job as the backup, but the Raiders need a starting-caliber healthy quarterback to compete under a new head coach.
That new head coach may be Antonio Pierce without an interim tag, or another person who believes they can fix the franchise's struggles.
Garoppolo still has a year left on his Raiders contract, but he is not the long-term answer at quarterback, and that could lead to the new head coach bringing in a new option under center this offseason.
Las Vegas is likely out of the race for any of the top NFL draft prospects. It currently holds the No. 11 pick and could miss out on Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.
The Raiders should take a close look at O'Connell's film to see if he could be the permanent starter moving forward, but if not, they could have some veteran options to choose from.
Aidan O'Connell
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Aidan O'Connell was not drafted to be the starting quarterback in his rookie season.
However, the fourth-round pick out of Purdue was forced into action due to Garoppolo's season-ending injury.
Garoppolo is owed $11.2 million next season, per Spotrac, and if the Raiders can't get out of his contract, they may prefer to stick with O'Connell, especially if Pierce stays on as the permanent head coach.
A relationship would already be in place between O'Connell and Pierce and that would allow the Raiders to go after a potential Josh Jacobs replacement either in the draft or free agency.
If the Raiders surround O'Connell with a top-tier running back, Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, they could compete for a AFC wild-card spot, especially if their defense plays well again.
O'Connell is not the ideal long-term solution, but he could get a season-long chance if the Raiders focus on other areas of the offense in the offseason.
Justin Fields
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The Raiders should monitor the Chicago Bears' quarterback situation.
Chicago has a choice to make with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft in hand.
The Bears could either draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye with the top pick and trade Fields for a few draft picks, or deal the top selection for draft capital to build around Fields.
Chicago's final decision has not been made yet, and if Fields is made available, a handful of teams should be interested.
Las Vegas sits in a weird spot right now because it needs to choose a head coach before it makes any long-term quarterback decisions.
If the new head coach likes Fields and he is available through a trade, the Raiders should at least explore the possibility to avoid starting over at the position.
Michael Penix Jr.
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Michael Penix Jr.'s draft stock was boosted by a 400-yard performance in the Sugar Bowl on New Years' Day.
The Washington Huskies quarterback is not considered to be a top-10 NFL draft pick yet, which is good news for the Raiders.
Las Vegas will probably miss out on Williams, Maye and Daniels, all of whom should be selected by quarterback-needy teams in the top 10.
The Raiders and Penix could form a partnership if the new head coach believes in his talent and does not prefer the veteran options available at the position.
The Athletic's NFL draft experts listed Penix as the No. 26 overall prospect in December before he stole the show at the Sugar Bowl.
A title-winning performance against the Michigan Wolverines could further boost Penix's stock and convince the Raiders to take him at No. 11, or wherever they end up in the draft order, as part of the franchise's latest reset.
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