Five Raiders storylines to follow as OTA’s begin
By Evan Groat
Who will be the backup QB?
This may not be the sexiest position battle, but given how the 2016 season ended, Raiders fans now know the important of having a capable backup quarterback. With Matt McGloin out of the picture and E.J. Manuel was brought in to compete with Connor Cook for the no. 2 job.
In January, Raider Nation watched Connor Cook become the only quarterback in NFL history to make their first ever start in a playoff game. To Cook’s credit, he stood no chance against that Texans defense, especially after being inactive for the first 16 games of the season.
Up until the playoff game, Cook saw limited reps in practice, and primarily served as the scout team quarterback. With a bit of experience now under his belt, the Raiders are hoping he can continue to develop and show why they traded up to draft him.
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Cook likely has the backup job in hand, but E.J. Manuel will at least push him, and competition is always a good thing. Following four forgettable years in Buffalo as a first round pick, McKenzie inked Manuel to a one-year deal worth just $800,000.
One thing that Manuel does have going for him is familiarity with new offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who was his QB Coach in 2014. Perhaps a fresh start is what Manuel needs to salvage his career. And if his name is called, he’ll at least have a decent amount of experience on his side.