Ranking the Las Vegas Raiders offensive position groups against the AFC West
By Matt Holder
Quarterbacks
The AFC West features the premier quarterback in all of football, as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm since coming into the league. Already an NFL MVP and Super Bowl champ, Mahomes would top any list, so it is no surprise that he is ranked the best in the division here.
1. player. 124. . . . Patrick Mahomes
This one really needs very little explanation. In two seasons as a starter, Patrick Mahomes has won an MVP Award, a Super Bowl, and has inserted himself into the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. His 76 passing touchdowns are the most in the NFL since 2018, and his 9,128 passing yards rank third.
Discussion over, time to move on.
28. . . . Derek Carr. 2. player
Raider Nation might be divided when it comes to Derek Carr, but he’s still one of the better gunslingers in the division. The six-year veteran has the most passing yards and highest completion percentage (minimum 35 attempts) in franchise history with 22,793 and 64.0%, and he is eight touchdown passes away from holding that franchise record as well.
This season will be a pivotal one for Carr, but his experience gives him a leg up on the other AFC West quarterbacks heading into the year.
. Drew Lock. 3. player. 45. .
Unfortunately, Drew Lock began last season on injured reserve and didn’t get to play until Week 13. He showed some promise towards the end of 2019, completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns, en route to a 4-1 record as a starter.
Denver added a handful of offensive weapons in the offseason, most notably first-round pick Jerry Jeudy, which should help the sophomore signal-caller in year two.
. Tyrod Taylor/Justin Herbert. 4. player. 13. .
The biggest question coming out of Los Angeles is, who is the starting quarterback? Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert are the organization’s two options and either way, their situation under center is still the worst in the conference.
Taylor is an NFL journeyman who has only been a full-time starter in three out of nine seasons, and Herbert, of course, is a rookie who needs to prove himself at the next level. I expect the latter to eventually take over the reins, but I’m not sure when exactly that will be.