Raiders Sign QB EJ Manuel

The Raiders have signed free agent quarterback EJ Manuel, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). With Derek Carr entrenched as the Raiders’ starting signal-caller, Manuel will presumably compete with Connor Cook for the No. 2 role.

EJ Manuel

The 26-year-old Manuel now represents the only first-round passer on the Raiders’ roster, having gone 16th overall to the Bills in the 2013 draft. Manuel was never able to grab a strong hold of the starting job in Buffalo, though, as both Kyle Orton and Tyrod Taylor bumped him from the job during his four-year tenure there.

A large portion of Manuel’s action with the Bills came in his rookie season, during which he started in all 10 of his appearances in an injury-shortened campaign and completed 58.8 percent of passes, threw 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions and averaged 6.4 yards per attempt. He has since picked up 17 appearances and seven starts, and has continued to post backup-caliber numbers.

Manuel now reunites with Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who was the Bills’ quarterbacks coach in 2014.

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