Las Vegas Raiders: Is any 2023 NFL Draft QB worth trading up for?
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 7 overall pick, but to get one of the top-3 quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft, they may have to trade up.
For the Las Vegas Raiders, the 2023 season will be one of change, especially at the quarterback position. Since entering the NFL as a rookie in 2014, all Raider Nation has ever known since then is Derek Carr at the position, an era that ended this past week when he was released on Valentine’s Day.
As general manager David Ziegler and Josh McDaniels look to find his replacement, the 2023 NFL Draft is a place they could look. However, sitting at No. 7 overall, they may be drafting too late to get one of the top-3 quarterbacks in this draft class, as some believe CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Will Levis could be gone by the time they pick.
That brings into question whether or not they should trade up in round one, and whether or not any of these three quarterbacks is good enough to trade up for. Yes, Stroud is a great talent, as is Young, but Las Vegas would have to mortgage the future to trade up that high to get either one of them.
Levis could be available at No. 7, but he seems like more of a project, and the clock is already ticking for McDaniels as head coach.
Looking ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft, there is a lot more quarterback talent, so the Silver and Black may be wise to use this season as a bridge to their next franchise guy at the position.
Raiders should keep their eye on the 2024 quarterback class
Moving on from a nine-year starter at the most important position in sports is never going to be easy, and it could be a longer process than the Raiders may like. Speaking on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, Ziegler said there may not be an ‘immediate answer’ at the quarterback position, which could mean the 2024 class is in play.
We are fairly early in the draft process as we inch closer to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, and we will get a better look at this 2023 class then. For Las Vegas, they would be wise to hold onto their draft capital and stay put at No. 7, figuring out another position group, and hoping they can get a veteran in here via a trade or NFL free agency.
Of course, Ziegler and his staff could fall in love with a guy like Anthony Richardson and pick him up at No. 7 overall, but that could be a stretch in terms of his draft position. Las Vegas has not had much success in the first round in recent memory, so any kind of Day 1 starter that makes an impact coming on Day 1 would be fine with most of Raider Nation.