With attention already paid to the side of the ball that needs the most help, it’s time to look to the offense and see where upgrades might be available in free agency. As it stands, the Las Vegas Raiders look set at offensive line, tight end and in the backfield, leaving quarterback and wide receiver the two areas to keep an eye on.
Of course, quarterback is a tough one because the truth is the Raiders still have a competent NFL quarterback on their roster. Then again, as Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have said ad nausem, they’re always looking for an upgrade anywhere they can find it. So, will that be at quarterback? Here are the options…
Tom Brady
We’ve covered that one already.
Marcus Mariota
Former Tennesee Titans first-round-pick lost the job to Ryan Tannehill last season and is looking for new work this offseason. By all accounts, he won’t get a starting job anywhere (at least not a permanent one), making him an intriguing option as a backup. I would imaging Vegas would be intriguing for Mariota as well — a team that clearly isn’t in love with their starter and that is run by a quarterback guru like Gruden.
I mean, doesn’t this feel like it could play out the same way Tannehill’s story did last year?
Case Keenum
It wasn’t long ago that Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million deal with the Denver Broncos and was viewed as a competent starter in the NFL. Unfortunately for the journeyman, his stint in Denver was rough — and it was followed up by a trip into the nightmare that is the Washington football team.
At 32-years-old, Keenum feels like the quintessential Gruden backup. He’s a veteran that has experience as a starter, and he feels like the type of tough underdog that Gruden has thrived with in the past. For Keenum, it’s a stable backup job with real upside to becoming a starting job. Keep an eye on this one.
*Note: Ryan Tannehill was also included on this list, but has since re-signed with the Titans.
