When the Las Vegas Raiders signed free agent Jimmy Garoppolo to a big two-year contract in mid-March, it seemed they were set at quarterback for the next couple of seasons.
Head coach Josh McDaniels destroyed that thinking Monday, telling The Athletic that the team is considering drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
“If we feel like the guy is worth it, we would do it,” McDaniels said (via The Athletic). “He’s a really good player at the most important position in football and so … is making your quarterback room stronger or a strength of your team a bad thing? In our opinion, it’s not.”
The Raiders have the No. 7 overall pick. The consensus top three quarterbacks available, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson, are all expected to go within the top five picks, and possibly even 1-2-3 overall, depending upon a possible trade from a team looking to move up.
Las Vegas has been widely expected to select a defensive player at No. 7, with Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter viewed as a potential — yet controversial — choice. But Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is still expected to be available when the Raiders draft.
In fact, NFL.com’s mock draft, updated Monday, now has the Raiders selecting Levis.
Something else to consider: Las Vegas needs a backup quarterback, and McDaniels seems to prefer a rookie that can learn from the veteran Garoppolo.
“It could be a rookie; it could be a veteran,” McDaniels said. “I think the goal though is to try to eventually draft a player at that position that you continue to move forward with and develop. We’ve done that. I’ve done that. I’ve been a part of that. I enjoy doing that.”
“I think it’s a really good philosophy to have organizationally so you’re not chasing a brand-new backup quarterback every year and trying to identify who the best fit is. So, see if we can figure that out in the next month here.”
