Report: Oakland Raiders to not select a quarterback in first round of 2014 Draft

Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) reacts to the sideline against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Fans of the Oakland Raiders apparently will be able to deduct at least one position from the long list of possibilities when it comes to general manager Reggie McKenzie’s fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft on Thursday in New York City. According to reports, fans will at least know that the team will not be in the running for any of the quarterbacks. At least not in the first round at the very least.

Top Oakland Raiders insider Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports the Raiders aren’t considering drafting either of the top two quarterbacks, Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles or even the likes of Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr with the fifth overall pick.

Earlier in the offseason Raiders general manager had this to say about the Raiders quarterback situation leading into the draft. Claiming that the addition of veteran Matt Schaub wouldn’t mean passing up on a quarterback should the front office and scouts of the team feel that there was a passer worthy of the fifth selection of the draft.

“Because we traded for Schaub does that mean we’re going to bypass a [quarterback] that we’ve got graded a certain way? No,” McKenzie said way back in the early stages of free agency.

Based on Tafur’s report the Raiders seem to be more interested in building their team before making any plans at taking a large risk on a first round quarterback, one that McKenzie may never have to make. With Schaub in place the team can find a quarterback that falls outside of the first round quite easily and allow him to develop for the time being, a factor that makes it no surprise that the Raiders will be looking to add talent that can make an impact right away in the first round.