Ever since Derek Carr was released in February 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders have been having trouble finding a starting quarterback they felt comfortable with.
In came Jarrett Stidham to replace Carr in the last couple of games in the 2022 NFL season. Then came free-agent QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who turned into a major flop under then-head coach Josh McDaniels.
The Raiders also drafted Aidan O’Connell, who saw some starts during his rookie season and this past season. But he is more of a backup quarterback, which is why the Raiders are looking for stability at the position. The Raiders will likely sign a free-agent QB, or maybe trade for one, and could draft a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Raiders insider Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal provided some insight on Sunday about a possible Matthew Stafford trade or free-agent signing and posted on X that you cannot rule out the Raiders for Stafford.
“Something to keep an eye on, per sources: the persuasiveness of Tom Brady as a recruiter for the Raiders. It will make things interesting during free agency. And maybe even in the trade market. It’s why you can’t rule out Matthew Stafford as an option,” Bonsignore wrote.
Stafford still can get it done even at the age of 37. The Raiders need a big-time QB to go against Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix in the AFC West and Stafford would be that ideal QB. There is a lot to be done still and other teams are vying for Stafford.
On Saturday, insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the Rams granted Stafford and his agent “permission to talk to other teams about his market value.” There is always a chance, though, that Stafford could return to the Rams, but the Raiders will try to see what can be done to pry him away from Los Angeles.
The chances of the Raiders adding Stafford are slim, but if they managed to get him, it would give the Silver and Black a chance to win now, something that head coach Pete Carroll harped on during his introductory news conference in January.
The Raiders have a lot of picks in the NFL Draft and could get their franchise QB there, but for now, Carroll and the rest of the regime want to win immediately, just like star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.
