Las Vegas Raiders can take advantage of active QB market
Quarterbacks already moving around this offseason
This offseason, teams seem more aggressive in pursuit of a quarterback. The Los Angeles Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade, sending Jared Goff, a third-rounder, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-rounder to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, the Philadelphia Eagles are on the verge of trading quarterback Carson Wentz.
Eagles are expected to trade Carson Wentz in the coming days in what would be the latest blockbuster QB deal to rock the NFL, sources tell @mortreport and me. The most pertinent questions now become where, when and for what. But it could happen as early as this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2021
The Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Football Team made the playoffs, so they have picks outside the top 18, but all three clubs need a long-term starter at quarterback. Instead of a project-type player, the general managers of those clubs may want an experienced signal-caller to keep their postseason window open.
On NBC Sports Boston’s Early Edition (h/t Justin Leger), The MMQB’s Albert Breer added the New England Patriots to the conversation, and he mentioned Mariota as a trade target.
"I think the Patriots are checking in on everything at this point, but the asking price here is very, very high. My understanding is the Eagles were asking for a Matthew Stafford type of return for Carson Wentz, who just came off a terrible season, has a bad contract. Do you like Marcus Mariota? Honestly, that’s probably what we’re looking at. If you don’t want to pay in this neighborhood, you’re not going to get a quarterback like this. It’s crazy out there right now, and if you’re gonna swim in these waters you have to understand the cost of admission. That’s sort of what it is right now and so, the other question is do you want to do that sort of thing or would you rather try and find yourself a Ryan Tannehill type of reclamation project."
The Patriots can look at Mariota as their stopgap quarterback for the present and see how he pans out with a second opportunity to lead a huddle for an entire season.
Of course, New England would likely place a call for Carr first. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “multiple teams” will pursue him in the coming weeks. On the flip side, the Raiders beat reporter wrote “odds favor” the team focusing primarily on fixes for its 30th-ranked scoring defense.
If the Patriots miss out on Wentz and want a veteran in place, a trade for Mariota makes sense for both sides.