Even after adding veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this offseason, the Raiders are still considering a rookie QB. We heard earlier this week that the organization was eyeing projected second-round quarterback Hendon Hooker, but the front office is also keeping their options open in the first round. General manager Dave Ziegler told reporters that the Raiders “haven’t ruled anything out” in regards to a first-round QB.
“Having Jimmy does supply us with a very high-quality starting player at the position. And so, we feel comfortable with that,” Ziegler said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal). “But I think to close that door and say that’s not something you would do because of X, Y and Z. That’s not the business we’re in.
“…Any time you can find a young player at that position that’s going to have an impact on your team, you have to keep an open mind to that.”
As Bonsignore writes, the Raiders “were as active as any team in the NFL” when it came to evaluating quarterback prospects. Currently sitting with the No. 7 pick, the Raiders could even move up the draft board in pursuit of their preferred player. The Raiders are armed with selections in each round of the draft, including extra picks in the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh.
However, the Raiders might not even have to make a trade. If the Cardinals keep their pick (coupled with the possibility that the Texans could pivot away from a rookie QB at No. 2), then the Raiders may find that one of Florida’s Anthony Richardson or Kentucky’s Will Levis falls to them at No. 7. Further, thanks to the addition of Garoppolo, the Raiders are in no rush to add a player at the position, and a rookie QB would surely be redshirted behind the Raiders’ free agent acquisition for at least the 2023 campaign.
The Raiders have plenty of holes on defense, so even if a QB does fall to No. 7, there’s still a chance the front office goes for a player who could contribute now. In that scenario, the front office could make a push for Hooker. The Tennessee product visited the Raiders earlier this month and are believed to have been impressed with the prospect. Coming off a November ACL tear, Hooker isn’t expected to be a serious option for the organization with the seventh-overall pick.
I’ve like Hooker’s talent, and wanted him for the Raiders, but given the S2 score, my preference now is to surrender a late #3 for Lance than our #2 for Hooker.
At least Hooker’s score was better than Stroud’s.
Hendon Hooker is the quarterback who could eventually have a better career than just about all of the other 2023 draftees, including Bryce Young. Once he recovers from his ACL injury and gets on the field, his leadership and accuracy will be invaluable. His age is working against him more than his injury, I believe. I’d take him before Will Levis or Anthony Richardson or Kiper/McShay mancrush Bryce Young. C.J. Stroud is the only draftee I’d consider before Hooker.
Having a QB named Hooker is Vegas. LOL. You couldn’t write a better script than that!