After an unusual number of teams have been mentioned as not being interested in Lamar Jackson, the Raiders can be included as a potential suitor. The Silver and Black have not eliminated Jackson or any of the big-name QBs still available, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.
Jackson would represent the biggest fish left, and the list of teams listed as early stay-aways dwarfs those being connected to the Ravens’ franchise player. The Commanders, Dolphins, Falcons and Panthers have been connected to steering clear of Jackson — at least on the fully guaranteed contract he seeks. The Raiders moved on from Derek Carr and created some cap space as a result, though they still have three skill-position players — Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow — tied to extensions.
It would cost the Raiders at least two first-round picks to obtain Jackson from the Ravens, who would have the option to match an offer sheet. The teams could also work out a trade involving another compensation package.
The Raiders’ most logical connection remains Jimmy Garoppolo, who has ties to Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler. The Raiders were mentioned as a potential Garoppolo suitor in January, and many at the Combine voiced an expectation the team will pursue the former Patriots and 49ers passer, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes.
Garoppolo still might be a backup plan, with Aaron Rodgers rumblings surfacing again. The Jets are currently meeting with the future Hall of Famer, but Graziano adds McDaniels has long respected him. Pushback regarding the Raiders’ Rodgers interest has also emerged, and McDaniels indicated an aim to develop a young passer. Rodgers would not qualify as a bridge option like Garoppolo, as a trade for the Packers great would be for a Super Bowl run. Garoppolo, conversely, could be used as a high-end placeholder.
The Jets have made their interest in Rodgers crystal clear, and the Packers greenlit an all-hands-on-deck Jets recruiting effort Tuesday in California. The Raiders have kept their cards closer to the vest. Way back when Rodgers dropped his initial trade-request bombshell on the league — in April 2021 — the Raiders joined the Broncos as being an acceptable destination. Much has changed in Las Vegas since. Jon Gruden making a controversial exit that ultimately led to McDaniels and Ziegler taking over, but that duo signed off on a blockbuster trade for Adams. Rodgers attempted to convince Adams to stay in Green Bay last year, but the longtime Carr ally had made up his mind.
In the event Rodgers removes himself from the Jets’ equation, Garoppolo would have an apparent path to New York. But he spent the first three-plus seasons of his career in McDaniels’ offense. After the new Raiders power duo deemed Carr an iffy fit for McDaniels’ attack, a familiar face running the show would be a logical move for the team.
On the familiarity front, Graziano also mentions chatter about the Raiders having interest in acquiring Mac Jones while adding the Patriots are unlikely to move him. Jones regressed last season and fared better under McDaniels compared to Matt Patricia, but the Pats appear prepared to see how their 2021 first-rounder looks in Bill O’Brien‘s offense. The Raiders have eyes on another ex-Patriot, however, with the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin adding Brian Hoyer would be on McDaniels’ radar as a mentor-type presence. But Hoyer is leaning toward retiring, per Volin. McDaniels worked with Hoyer, 37, from 2017-18 and again from 2020-21. The former Patriots UDFA has been in the NFL since 2008.
The Raiders have begun talks to bring back Jarrett Stidham, who has been a McDaniels pupil at every step of his NFL career. With only ex-UDFA Chase Garbers under contract with the Silver and Black, the team will continue to be connected to big names and/or a first-round investment at the game’s premier position.
Please take Mac Jones
At least give Jones a year as a non-rookie with an actual offensive coordinator before you cast him out.
Mac has one now with BO
Please take Carson Wentz
Wentz got cut like a week ago
Given how McDaniels fared with Cam Newton as a mobile QB, I doubt that Jackson would be a good choice in Las Vegas. Newton was also 6’5” and approximately 240 lbs, and McDaniels used that to his advantage as a power runner. Jackson is fundamentally a different type of scrambler than Newton, so whatever plays McDaniels would come up with would have to be different as well. McDaniels did want Tebow in Denver as a scrambling QB, but he was also more power than elusive as a runner.
Between the adjustments that both Jackson and McDaniels would have to make, I don’t think that this would be a prudent choice.
Cam was washed by then. Apples and oranges.
Fair, but I’m more considering play design than that (also given how many quarterbacks the Patriots used that year as well). As a runner, Newton still had plenty to offer, as New England was unabashed in how often it ran him on the ground. Most of that rushing had decent results, and I think that McDaniels got comfortable relying on Newton’s legs to compensate for the lack of air yards. My point is that Jackson runs differently-if McDaniels thinks that he can run him in times of need, he’ll have to come up with a different style than he did with Newton.
The passing routes were rather simple, but it was hard to gauge how much of that was due to the lack of offseason Newton had, how poor the Patriots’ WR corps was (Edelman was almost a non factor that year, leaving Myers to be the de facto number one), the abilities of Newton himself, or the creativeness of McDaniels. It could have been a combination of them all, and likely was. But the passing results were uninspiring, to say the least. Most of New England’s offensive success came as a result of Newton’s running.
I don’t know if that’s an accurate indicator of McDaniels’ tendencies with scrambling QBs, but it just seems to me that he’d have better success with a pocket passer. For all the ill that Carr got last year with McDaniels, he certainly was not the thing holding the Raiders back from contention.
IMO, this is an owners decision. Input from the FO and field staff is secondary. Davis has an attendance problem. Brady’s out, looks like Rodgers too … next up seems to be Lamar to help improve attendance?
And, what an opportunity for McDaniels and crew to design a system around LJs all world athletic abilities and football skill set.
You must be referring to the closed-doors 2020 season. Newton was never the same after he came down with Covid-19 early on. Edelman only appeared in 6 games before he got injured and then retired.
They should roll with Stidham and draft a QB to use next year. Raiders aren’t doing anything this year and might as well take a shot on a development QB
I think that would be a sensible approach in many places but you don’t move a franchise to Vegas then hope to dazzle fans accustomed to excessive hype with Jarrett Stidham.
It is all so silly. Lamar will never be their QB – why give up the picks AND have to sign a crazy expensive contract (just to finish third in the division)? Jimmy G will be the Raider QB in 2023. Won’t cost any draft picks and he and Joshie have a mind meld going on from their Pats days. Sign him to some BS 4-5 year deal frontloaded with some money guaranteed. Draft a young guy for the cheap salary this year or next. Only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because A-A-Ron has the Jets bent over a barrel as he extracts some ridiculous contract out of them. Only then, will Jimmy commit to going to the Raiduhs. Jimmy needs to be flexible in the event that Rodgers gets cold feet again and screws the Packers by coming back to them. Only then will Jimmy truly cash in.
Unusual number? Lot of teams tied to guys, no where near competing, cap strapped, or asset strapped due to holes.
Just run through the starting QBs. You’re only left with potential locations…
MIA, DET, SF, LVS, GB, TN, CAR, ALT, WAS, INDY, HOU, NYJ, Tampa, and Balt…so 14 suitors to start with.
Rodgers, Jimmy G, and Tannehill will remove 3 of those. Tua is likely to remain the starter and Love will replace Eodgers if neccessary. So 2 more off the board.
Falcons and Texans in full rebuild, Bucs have less than no cap space so theres 3 more gone.
So 6 teams, including his current team.
I agree with your analysis, only to add that Detroit, Atlanta, and Washington seem to be giving their current QBs a chance at starting next year. In Goff’s case, he earned that right, while the others will be trying out their former rookies. San Fran too will probably have its Week One starter as either Lance or Purdy. I’d say that the list narrows even more with that in mind-all this to add to your overall argument.