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2018 quarterback market only helps Oakland Raiders’ offseason

By John Buhler

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders reacts as he leaves the field after 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders reacts as he leaves the field after 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Quarterbacks will be switching and joining new teams this offseason. One team that is poised to benefit from these transactions will be the Oakland Raiders.

Even though the conference championship weekend might indicate otherwise, the NFL is still very much a quarterback-driven league. It is increasingly hard for an organization to have sustained success without a franchise quarterback. Some teams will do whatever it takes to get one. One team that looks to be in good shape in that department going forward is the Oakland Raiders with Derek Carr.

Sure, 2017 was not a great year for Carr. The Raiders struggled all across the board, as the team failed to reach lofty expectations. Carr dealt with injuries during a miserable 6-10 2017 campaign for the Silver and Black. Even in a rough year for him, he still earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl, where he led the AFC to a game-winning drive late on Sunday.

While Carr is under contract for the foreseeable future, the Raiders don’t have a ton of cap space to work with this offseason. Yes, general manager Reggie McKenzie could create more space by cutting a few high-priced veterans, but Oakland won’t be swimming in money this offseason.

Interestingly, that shouldn’t matter a ton. McKenzie has enough space to pay a premium on one, maybe two high-end free agents, neither of which will be a quarterback. Oakland also has three picks inside of the top 100 in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft, including either No. 9 or No. 10 overall.

Frankly, the Raiders are in great shape to have an excellent offseason, especially with the amount of movement we will see in the quarterback market across the league. There are at least four franchise quarterbacks that will be taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. Before that, maybe as many as eighth starting-level veteran quarterbacks will be hitting the open market.

Must Read: Raiders: 5 WRs to target in 2018 NFL free agency

In short, teams that don’t have a long-term answer at quarterback are going to have to pay a premium at some point this offseason to get their franchise signal caller. Whether that be in free agency or the draft, we’ll just have to wait and see.

So how does this help the Raiders? Well, Oakland could afford to pay a premium on wide receiving and defensive back talent more than some quarterback desperate teams. It’s easier to sell Jarvis Landry or Allen Robinson on the Raiders knowing that Carr will be throwing the football in Jon Gruden’s offense. If Paul Guenther wants a defensive back like Lamarcus Joyner or an edge player like Demarcus Lawrence, Oakland is better positioned to pay a premium for a high-end non-quarterback in free agency.

No, it isn’t just the free agency period where the Raiders can win. Presumably, some team picking outside of the top-10 won’t have their quarterback issue solved in free agency. Oakland could be a trade partner for a team like the Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals or Buffalo Bills to potentially move up and get their guy at No. 9 or No. 10.

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There are plenty of defensive players the Raiders could get later in the first round of this draft. Not to mention, the Raiders would certainly get their trade partner’s first-round pick in 2019. Obviously, quarterback desperate teams would like to strike up a deal with the Indianapolis Colts picking at No. 3, but only one team can garner that pick. Who knows? Maybe Colts general manager Chris Ballard wants to take Bradley Chubb or Saquon Barkley at No. 3 and won’t hear any trade talk?

So while teams like the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings are overpaying to sign a Kirk Cousins or a Case Keenum in free agency, Oakland can sign presumably Michael Crabtree‘s replacement in free agency for top-dollar. With teams like Arizona and Buffalo scrambling for the right to draft Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen, the Raiders could move back, draft a Vita Vea and get Arizona or Buffalo’s first-round pick next year.

Next: Raiders NFL Draft: 5 front-seven players to take in first round

Having Carr at quarterback, Gruden as head coach and McKenzie as general manager creates a lot of intrigue around the Raiders’ offseason. If we’re so lucky, the Raiders can take advantage of the quarterback market they won’t be a part of to make a few clever moves this offseason to help their football team for 2018 and beyond.

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