There were a number of different avenues the Las Vegas Raiders could have gone in finding their quarterback this offseason. Of course, the team would trade for former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, but there were other options out there as well, with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold most notable, as he was an unrestricted free agent.
The Raiders would ultimately trade for Smith, with Darnold, coincidentally, signing a three-year deal to replace Smith on the Seahawks. It was initially believed by some that the Raiders would pursue Darnold, but the franchise ultimately chose not to, reportedly due to the influence of one man.
According to Michael Silver of The Athletic, minority owner Tom Brady was not in favor of the Raiders signing Darnold this summer:
The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion. While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway — was not in favor of that approach, according to a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions.
It has long been said that Brady would be an active owner, with him holding a significant level of control over football decisions. This could well be the first example of that sway if he indeed shot down the idea of the Raiders going after Darnold in free agency.
It isn’t far-fetched to see why Brady would have his doubts. Darnold was excellent in his lone season with the Vikings, but had struggled greatly during his time with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Brady might not have a high opinion of Darnold, hence the Raiders going after someone who they feel has a far greater chance at success, especially considering his prior relationship and success with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.
Finding the right quarterback is imperative to being a good team in the NFL, and Brady just made sure the Raiders got the right guy this offseason.
Raiders LT Kolton Miller wants to be with team for life
Regardless of who is at quarterback, having a good offensive line to protect him is one of the most important things for him to thrive. The Raiders have had Kolton Miller holding down the left tackle spot for the last seven seasons. This could be his last run in the silver and black as he is eligible for free agency next year, but not if Miller himself has anything to do with it.
“I want to be a Raider for life,” Miller said. “I love it here. I don’t want to go anywhere else. I only know one way to do it, and that’s showing up, getting better each day.”
