The Oakland Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback and filling that position will be a priority this offseason. Last year, Matt McGloin and Terrelle Pryor had the opportunity to lead the offense, and while they both showed promise at times, neither won the confidence of their coach nor showed they could be the quarterback of the future. So, what do Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders do? Luckily for them, this year’s draft and free agent market have plenty of quarterbacks.
First, lets talk about the draft option. Oakland will have the fifth pick in the draft this year, and while there are many positions that need improvement, they must draft a quarterback.
Raiders, quarterbacks, and draft are three words that have not gone well together. This organization hasn’t had much success with drafting quarterbacks whether it be by the great Al Davis, or even recently Reggie McKenzie; Tyler Wilson anyone?
A name Raiders fans hate to hear is JaMarcus Russell. Russell is one of the worst draft picks in NFL history, and the Raiders selected him number one overall back in 2007. That being said, the last great quarterback drafted by the silver and black was Kenny Stabler who was drafted in 1968. The Raiders haven’t had much luck with drafting quarterbacks, but hopefully, this year’s draft class will deliver better results for the Raiders.
Teddy Bridgewater is a target for the Raiders and, if available, would be sporting the silver and black next season. That being said, Bridgewater is a top prospect and will most likely be drafted before the Raiders are on the clock.
Another option would be Derek Carr or Johnny Manziel. Both have put up great numbers in their college career, and have the tools to succeed in the NFL. Carr has shown off his strong arm with Fresno State and deserves a look by Oakland. He’s an efficient passer and can be a quarterback the Raiders build with.
Manziel is well known for his drama off the field, but has had two good seasons at Texas A&M. There is a lot of concern with Johnny Football when it comes to an NFL career and whether or not he can stay out of trouble and let the media be focussed on his play on the field rather than some drama off the field. Manziel is an interesting player in this year’s draft. He is one of the most exciting players, and everyone wants to know where he’ll end up. He is an explosive play maker and is very good at handling defensive pressure.
A quarterback option the Raiders may consider in the later rounds is David Fales from San Jose State University. Fales has impressed the last two years, and while he may not have the strongest arm, he is accurate and the short passing game could work well for the Raiders. Fales also defeated Fresno State back in December ending their undefeated season.
There are also many free agent quarterbacks available for Oakland to consider.
The most talked about is Michael Vick. Vick is a veteran quarterback and is known for his speed, but the 33-year-old simply can’t stay healthy; he hasn’t played a full season since 2006. The Raiders are rebuilding, the last thing they need is a veteran quarterback who will do them no good.
Vick would be a good guy to bring in as a veteran presence to help a young quarterback of the same type of skill set develop and learn; however Pryor best accompanies Vick and it’s clear Pryor is not the answer in Oakland. Therefore, Vick isn’t a good option for Oakland and it’s unlikely they will sign him.
Lately, it has been reported that the Raiders have shown interest in Matt Schaub if the Houston Texans release him. Like Vick, Schaub could serve as a veteran mentor for a young up and coming player, however Schaub doesn’t necessarily fit with the Raiders system. He had a tough season last year, as did the Texans as a whole. He would be an upgrade from what the Raiders currently have on their roster, but wouldn’t be a long term solution.
Matt Cassel is also testing the free agent market this year. Cassel has had some rough seasons the past few seasons, but has shown he is a decent quarterback in the past. When Tom Brady went down in 2008, Cassel stepped in and made a name for himself with the Patriots. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and led them to the playoffs in 2010. The Raiders haven’t expressed any interest in Cassel, but he could be an option as well.
The Raiders need to do something with the quarterback position this offseason. While McGloin has had less time with the team than Pryor and showed some promise, his performance was not enough to earn him a starting job. Oakland has to draft a quarterback this year, and build a solid team around a good quarterback for the future. Signing a free agent quarterback would only be a temporary fix. They need to bring in a quarterback they can build a team around and succeed with.
The 2014 draft is full of promising quarterback talent and big names that can help the Raiders get back on track with that commitment to excellence attitude. Al Davis said it best, “Just win baby.”