Raiders still open to drafting QB despite Jimmy Garoppolo signing
Although the Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.8M deal, the possibility that they draft a QB is still in the picture.
“It doesn’t change our philosophy at all,” Raiders GM Dave Ziegler said on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “If we have an opportunity to draft a young QB there that we think, obviously, is a potential starter at that spot, I think we would do it.”
Garoppolo is a viable starter. He has a 40-17 starting record. However, his injury history is a concern. Over the past five seasons, he missed 31 games due to an ACL tear, a high ankle sprain and a broken foot suffered against Miami in December.
Las Vegas only has one other QB on its roster, Chase Garbers, an undrafted free agent who attempted zero passes during his rookie season. Since he’s probably not the answer, the Raiders should target a QB.
They have the No. 7 overall pick within range to select one in a deep class. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, they’re four QBs with a first-round grade (Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis).
Ziegler recently attended Stroud’s pro day. Per Gutierrez, he will attend Richardson’s pro day on Thursday. The GM looking at two of the four potential first-round QBs signals the organization is seriously considering drafting one.
The strategy could work out for Las Vegas because they’ll have a young player who can learn under Jimmy G and grow into a potential starter.
