2023 NFL quarterback analysis: Las Vegas Raiders
Current starter: Jarrett Stidham | Current backups: Chase Garbers and Derek Carr
State of the position: The Raiders have a giant question at quarterback. After Week 16, they benched longtime starter Carr, who agreed to step away from the team. Las Vegas will trade or release him. If the Raiders release him three days after the Super Bowl, they only incur a $5.6 million cap hit.
In the season’s final two games, Stidham started and lost twice, posting a 54.7 QBR, slightly above average. Garbers is an undrafted 23-year-old rookie out of Cal who attempted zero passes in 2022. He obviously is not the answer.
Las Vegas has the goods to be bold to upgrade at QB.
Per The Athletic: “They would have in excess of $50 million of cap space after moving on from Carr … and own up to 11 draft picks, starting with the No.7 selection, so nothing should be off the table,” wrote Tashan Reed of The Athletic.
Key stat: Carr’s 14 interceptions in 15 starts tied him with Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins for second most in the league. It was his second consecutive season with 14 picks.
2023 QB forecast: The starting QB for 2023 is not on the roster. The Raiders should explore all options in free agency and the draft.
Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, “The idea that Jimmy Garoppolo and Tom Brady could land in Vegas is very much on my radar.” The Garoppolo and Brady connection with the Raiders is HC Josh McDaniels, their offensive coordinator with the Patriots. Both are pending free agents.
With the seventh overall pick, Tankathon predicts the Raiders will select Will Levis, the QB from Kentucky who has a “rocket launcher” for an arm, per ESPN’s Mel Kiper (h/t Bleacher Report).
