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Raiders 2022 free agency recap: Johnathan Hankins and a new quarterback

By Alexander Monfreda

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 10: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins #90 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bears defeated the Raiders 20-9. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 10: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins #90 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bears defeated the Raiders 20-9. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Nick Mullens #9 of the Cleveland Browns drops back looking for an open receiver during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Nick Mullens #9 of the Cleveland Browns drops back looking for an open receiver during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Backup for Carr?

Earlier in free agency, the Raiders announced the signing of quarterback Garrett Gilbert. If you’re familiar with the AAF, you likely know about Gilbert, seeing as he led the now-suspended league in most statistical categories for quarterbacks. Being on the Patriots’ practice squad, this signing made sense, given the knowledge of McDaniels’ system the former Patriot has.

On Friday, the Las Vegas Raiders made another quarterback move, signing Baker Mayfield’s former backup, Nick Mullens. In the last four seasons, Mullens has started 17 games, recording 26 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The 6’1 quarterback also has a career completion percentage of 64.6, with a QB rating of 87.3.

If you’re wondering why you’re getting a sick-feeling reading that name, it’s due to Mullens’ first career start back in 2018. Entering week 9 of the ’18 season, the San Francisco 49ers, who were already without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, had just lost CJ Beathard as well. With these events in place, the team was left with no choice but to start Nick Mullens.

To put it bluntly, Mullens had his way with the Raiders in his NFL debut. The third quarterback starting for San Francisco went on to throw 3 touchdowns, accompanied by a 72.73 completion percentage, and an almost perfect quarterback rating of 151.9.

When it was all said and done, the Raiders had gotten blown out in a 34-3 final score.

This wasn’t the last the Silver and Black would see of Mullens, though. This past season, as fate would have it, the Raiders got a chance to atone for the 2018 disaster. In a week 13 match that put the Cleveland Browns against Las Vegas, Nick Mullens would once again find himself filling in for his starting quarterback against the Raiders.

This time, the outcome was different. Las Vegas bested Cleveland in a 16-14 game, sealing the victory on a last-second score off the leg of Daniel Carlson. This would be just one-of-six last-second victories for the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders, which set a new NFL record.

Now, after a storied history between the two, Mullens is part of the Silver and Black.

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