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Raiders’ 2018 backup quarterback situation could be one of intrigue

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 08: EJ Manuel #3 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 08: EJ Manuel #3 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Derek Carr is the Oakland Raiders starting quarterback. However, EJ Manuel is a free agent and Connor Cook is unproven. What can the Raiders do behind Carr?

Derek Carr was a huge reason that Jon Gruden took the Oakland Raiders head coaching job this offseason. Gruden sees great untapped potential in the Raiders franchise quarterback. While Carr was an MVP candidate in 2016, he regressed in 2017 under Todd Downing and was likely held back by injury.

It is for that reason that Gruden and his staff must appropriately address the backup quarterback situation heading into 2018. Last year, the Raiders had three quarterbacks on their roster: Carr, former failed starter with the Buffalo Bills in EJ Manuel and former mid-round pick Connor Cook.

Manuel played roughly six quarters for the Silver and Black in 2017, including a Week 5 start filling in for the injured Carr versus the Baltimore Ravens. Oakland lost that game, but Manuel was at least serviceable in relief of Carr last season.

However, Downing was a huge reason that Manuel signed with the Raiders in 2017. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Manuel sign elsewhere to play for a coach he worked with in either Buffalo or Oakland the last few years.

Cook is the most recent Raiders quarterback to start in an AFC playoff game. Yes, he has more starting experience than Carr in the playoffs. However, Cook and the Raiders would get crushed by the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round in the 2016 AFC playoffs. Gruden may have interest in developing Cook, but he has yet to show us why he was such a good college player for the Michigan State Spartans at the NFL level.

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So let’s just say that Manuel walks in his free agency and Gruden doesn’t trust Cook just yet? What is the new Raiders head coach do to make sure his team can tread water if Carr is unable to go? He will have to target a seasoned veteran in 2018 NFL free agency, as there isn’t a draft prospect ready to be an NFL backup in year one, or at least where the Raiders would be willing to draft a career backup.

Perhaps the best backup prospect the Raiders could get would be Mason Rudolph out of Oklahoma State. However, he is a starting level quarterback prospect in most people’s eyes, though not right away. Plus, he is sure to be off the board by the middle of the second round anyway. Odds are that the New England Patriots will grab him to be in the quarterback room with Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer.

If Gruden does look at a veteran backup to play second fiddle to Carr, he could be in luck. There are a few guys that could work in that backup quarterback role. With a new staff coming to the Valley of the Sun, maybe Drew Stanton leaves the Arizona Cardinals?

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Chad Henne loves collecting pay checks in North Florida with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he too will be a free agent. He has worked with new Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson in Jacksonville previously. Maybe the change of guard with the Carolina Panthers offense would be enough to pry Derek Anderson out of Charlotte?

All three of those guys wouldn’t by any means challenge Carr for the starting quarterback job should Carr for whatever reason struggle in his first year with Gruden. While there are other viable free agent backup quarterbacks, this is why it may not be the right play to overspend on guys like Matt Moore or Josh McCown. Moore has been a top-five backup for a long time. McCown will likely get a one-year deal with the Jets after one of his best seasons as a professional in 2017.

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Simply put, letting Manuel walk may not be the right call, especially if there are holdups on whether Cook is really ready to be Carr’s primary backup. The 2018 NFL Draft could be a total crapshoot at quarterback. Unless the Raiders can legitimately upgrade over Manuel at backup quarterback in free agency, then bringing him back looks to be a sound course of action.

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