Las Vegas Raiders linked to more quarterbacks than just Tom Brady
By Brad Weiss
While Tom Brady to the Las Vegas Raiders has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, the team is reportedly in on a number of available signal-callers.
The Las Vegas Raiders currently have Derek Carr atop the depth chart at quarterback, but every time you log onto social media, visit a sports website, or watch ESPN, you hear them linked to other quarterbacks. Sure, everyone by now knows that the team will be in play for six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady this offseason, but he is not the only veteran quarterback the team has been linked to.
Peter King, in a piece for Pro Football Talk this past week discussed the NFL’s potential quarterback carousel, and in it, he stated the Raiders could make a move for none other than Jameis Winston if they cannot land Brady. While Winston did lead the NFL in passing yards last season, he is a turnover machine, and Jon Gruden is not going to put up with that.
Marc Sessler from NFL.com likes the Raiders to add a veteran quarterback this offseason via free agency as well, but it is not Brady or Winston. In his piece, Sessler says the Silver and Black could be in play for AFC West rival Philip Rivers, who saw his 16-year run with the Los Angeles Chargers end this past month, and will be looking for work elsewhere.
In addition, ESPN’s Mel Kiper recently went on the First Draft Podcast and said that he could see former Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota landing in Sin City as well. Mariota played his way out of the starting job with the Titans, and while he could be brought in as a backup, he is going to want a sizable payday, and is not an upgrade over Carr.
It is safe to say that as long as the team does not come out and specifically state Carr is the guy moving forward, these rumors are going to continue. While that may not be great for Carr’s mind-state, he seems to be confident he is going to be the guy to take the first snap in Las Vegas, and plans on being the man until he is ready to hang them up.
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The bottom line is, nobody really knows what Gruden plans to do, and the new league year does not start until next month. For now, it is Carr who is the QB1 on the depth chart for the Raiders, but a lot can change from now until the team gets back together for workouts.