Even though the Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, the 31-year-old still feels like more of a short-term solution and not the franchise’s signal caller for years to come. The 2023 NFL Draft has multiple prospects who could fit that bill however with one of the best being Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Young immediately made waves when he became a starter for the Crimson Tide in 2021, leading Alabama to the National Championship Game and winning basically every award possible including the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and of course, the Heisman Trophy while also being named AP and Sporting News College Football Player of the Year.
Young is one of the top prospects in this year’s draft and the Raiders are doing their due diligence, meeting with the quarterback via Rob Goldberg of Bleacher Report:
Alabama prospect Bryce Young had dinner with Carolina Panthers personnel Wednesday and met with Las Vegas Raiders staff Thursday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
The Panthers have the No. 1 pick after a trade with the Chicago Bears, while the Raiders hold the No. 7 overall selection.
Barring something completely unforeseen, there is basically no chance that Young would last all the way to the seventh pick that the Raiders have. While signs seem to be pointing towards Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud being the top pick of the Panthers, it is still very possible that Young is their guy and is taken first overall. And if not, the second pick is held by the Houston Texans who are in dire need of a franchise quarterback.
But the NFL Draft is always unpredictable and things could happen that no one expects so it is important to do your research on all potential prospects which the Raiders are doing. There also remains the possibility that the Raiders could move up via trade.
It cost the Panthers a high-quality wide receiver, a first and second-round pick this year, and a future first and second-round pick to move up from ninth to the top pick. The Raiders potentially moving from seventh to second conceivably wouldn’t cost quite as much, but it wouldn’t be far off either.
But if the Raiders felt that Young was truly the player to lead this franchise for years to come, that price is worth it. You can not succeed in the NFL without having a great quarterback and the Raiders must do everything to ensure they get that player if they believe they’ve found him.
