The Las Vegas Raiders may have a big hole at the quarterback spot in 2023, but would trading for Justin Fields be a smart move?
When it comes to the 2023 offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders, much of the talk will be about the quarterback position. After benching Derek Carr the final two games of the season, and Carr eventually saying goodbye to Raider Nation, the Silver and Black will have a new man under center in Week 1 for the first time since the 2013 season.
Since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Derek Carr has been the franchise quarterback for Las Vegas, but the team will turn the page this offseason. There has already been plenty of speculation as to what the team may do at the most important position in sports, including a run at Tom Brady.
However, there is going to be a lot of names thrown out there over the next few months, and one is Chicago Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, With the No. 1 overall pick in their hands, Chicago may decide to turn the page at quarterback as well, and the Raiders could show interest in the former Ohio State standout.
Should the Raiders trade for Justin Fields?
To get the quarterback from the Bears, Las Vegas would likely need to send a first-round pick to Chicago, and right now, the Raiders hold the No. 7 overall selection. That may be too high of a pick to send for a player who struggled to complete passes last season, and someone who may not fit Josh McDaniels’ offense perfectly.
Of course, Chicago may decide to keep Fields and trade the No. 1 overall, something the Raiders may be interested in moving up to get. Fields had a solid sophomore season with Chicago last season, and with his rare blend of running ability, and arm talent, he is only going to get better.
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For Las Vegas, I believe they should avoid a trade for Fields, as they will look to bring in a veteran like Brady, and possibly draft someone to learn behind him. They also got strong play from Jarrett Stidham this past season, and he is a perfect No. 2 going into the 2023 season, so keeping their draft capital, and adding via free agency seems to be the right move.