With OTAs over and training camps still weeks away, plenty of questions are circling the NFL. Charles McDonald is tackling them this summer.
In the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders were one of the many teams rumored to be interested in drafting a quarterback. As six quarterbacks went off the board in the first 12 picks, it became clear that they were not going to take a quarterback and instead drafted a player at a different position — Georgia’s star tight end Brock Bowers.
That pick was a bit of a surprise, but their overall complacency at quarterback was even less expected. As the Raiders start their first full season with Antonio Pierce running the show, they’ll be chasing the rest of the AFC, with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, and it’s fair to ask: Is this a mistake?
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Let’s just be real here: The Raiders’ quarterback talent is going to leave them at a severe disadvantage in their own division, let alone the conference at large. Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert are always formidable opponents and the Chargers should see a boost in performance with Jim Harbaugh this season, even if they’re playing the long game in terms of their rebuild. Las Vegas has a leg up over Denver, which seems destined to start rookie quarterback Bo Nix for the upcoming season. The combination of Minshew, whom they signed on a two-year deal as a free agent, and O’Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick, isn’t the caliber of quarterback play the Raiders would ideally like to have. Which means the rest of the team will have to be strong in order for the Raiders to ultimately make the playoffs.
There is a bit of reason for optimism that the Raiders’ offensive supporting cast and defense will be able to buoy their quarterback situation. Losing Josh Jacobs in free agency will sting, but Zamir White showed some flashes when it was his turn to carry the ball. Superstar wide receiver Davante Adams is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/will-the-raiders-regret-not-getting-more-aggressive-at-quarterback-175311422.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-07-08 17:53:11
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