David Garrard and the Raiders: Oakland Better off Exploring Other QB Options

Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a collarbone injury on Sunday and is expected to miss a significant amount of time. That has forced the team to research other options at the position, including former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Garrard, who was released by Jacksonville prior to the regular season, still has some ability, but the Raiders should research other options like Kyle Orton and Carson Palmer before going all-in on a quarterback with back issues.

The loss of Campbell comes at a bad time for Oakland, which has gotten off to a 4-2 start and is hanging with San Diego in the AFC West.

By going through an extensive process to identify a new QB, it's clear the Raiders don't trust Kyle Boller to keep them afloat. And it will be tough to sign or trade for a new signal caller and force him straight into the lineup.

Garrard threw 23 touchdowns last season, which was a career-high, but he also tossed 15 interceptions. And it's clear Jacksonville saw something it didn't like during training camp to release him so close to the regular season.

He's been sacked 179 times and lost 21 fumbles (out of 44) during his career. His quarterback rating is 85.8, which represents an average gunslinger. And at this point of his career, that's exactly what he is, nothing more.

Orton is being forced out of Denver by Tim Tebow due to a slow start, but is coming off back-to-back solid seasons and is more game-ready than Garrard. He would also benefit from a strong running game, something he lacked during his time with the Broncos.

Palmer isn't as prepared for action, but has the most talent of the three players. While it would take a couple weeks for him to get back up to speed, the extra time off should have allowed him to overcome some of the nagging injuries that have been bothering him in recent years.

It isn't a total loss if Oakland ends up with Garrard, but there are other interesting options out there to consider before signing on the dotted line.