NFL Rumors: Raiders 'Exploring' Veteran QB Market, Could Trade for Current Starter

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly considering multiple avenues by which to add a veteran quarterback this offseason.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Raiders are exploring their QB options on both the free-agent and trade markets, and they could possibly trade for a current starting quarterback.

The Raiders reportedly plan to release Gardner Minshew when free agency begins next week, and they previously non-tendered Desmond Ridder, leaving Aidan O'Connell and the inexperienced Carter Bradley as the only quarterbacks on the roster.

In 2024, the Raiders missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season after finishing 4-13, which was their worst record since 2014.

Poor quarterback play was a big reason for the team's struggles, as Minshew threw for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 appearances and nine starts.

O'Connell wasn't as mistake-prone in his nine games and seven starts, but he didn't do enough to make the Vegas offense truly dangerous, throwing for 1,612 yards, eight touchdowns and four picks.

The Raiders cleaned house at the end of the season, firing head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco and replacing them with Pete Carroll and John Spytek.

Additionally, legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady was officially approved as a minority owner of the franchise, and he has seemingly had a hand in some of the major decisions.

The Raiders own the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, meaning they could try to find a young, franchise quarterback that way.

However, assuming Miami's Cam Ward is taken before the Raiders pick, there may not be a franchise quarterback available.

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is widely viewed as the No. 2 quarterback in the draft, but NFL draft insider Todd McShay reported that some teams felt Sanders did not take a "professional approach" to his interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, leading to questions about whether he could fall in the draft.

If the Raiders aren't comfortable with the idea of taking Sanders or another quarterback in the first round of the draft, their only other viable option would be to sign or trade for a more accomplished signal-caller.

For now, the top quarterbacks set to hit free agency next week are Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Aaron Rodgers also figures to get released by the New York Jets after the team announced their plan to move on from him.

In terms of a trade, Kirk Cousins may be the top candidate available after losing his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons to Michael Penix Jr.

The Raiders were reportedly one of two teams heavily in on Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Per Russini, the Raiders and New York Giants were willing to offer Stafford a two-year, $90 million deal, but Stafford and the Rams ultimately came to an agreement and the decision was made not to trade him.

Most of the remaining options aren't as accomplished or attractive as Stafford, but if the Raiders truly don't see much upside in their year's quarterback draft class, signing or trading for a stopgap solution may be the best move for the organization.