Last offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders hoped they had found their quarterback when they signed veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. Unfortunately, that was not the case, as he struggled to find consistency and was benched midway through the year in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell.
It became clear that the Raiders would be releasing Garoppolo this offseason, as it would save them a lot of money. The quarterback had fallen out of favor, and it didn’t take long for Garoppolo to find a new home in free agency.
According to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, Garoppolo has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Rams to be their backup quarterback:
The Rams found their backup Friday for star quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Jimmy Garoppolo, cut this week by the Las Vegas Raiders, agreed to terms with the Rams, people with knowledge of the situation said. The people requested anonymity because a contract has not been signed.
This is a good move for both the Rams and Garoppolo. Starter Matthew Stafford has had his issues with injuries in the past, and the likes of Brett Rypien, Carson Wentz, and John Wolford, among others, simply have not gotten it done. Garoppolo undoubtedly provides an upgrade over them.
And for Garoppolo, having the opportunity to join the Rams and learn from one of the best offensive minds in football, Rams coach Sean McVay, is a chance to get his career back on track and perhaps find a new life.
The partnership between Garoppolo and the Raiders seemed ideal then, but it simply didn’t work out, and the Raiders quickly moved on. Garoppolo has also found his landing spot, and both sides are better off going forward.
Odds Impact
The Las Vegas Raiders were positioned at +7500 odds to win the Super Bowl and remain at that number as Garoppolo’s departure has been an afterthought. The current spotlight for sports betting sites is on the San Francisco 49ers, who lead the pack as favorites with odds of +500, overshadowing the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, who are next in line at +650. The top contenders also include the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills, making up the formidable top five. Amidst this landscape, the Raiders are set to challenge expectations and carve their path toward NFL supremacy.
Raiders agree to two-year deal with Gardner Minshew II
The failure with Garoppolo last season has not prevented the team from bringing in another veteran this offseason. The Raiders agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal with Gardner Minshew II, who spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts.
Minshew took over the starting job in Indianapolis after Anthony Richardson was hurt and went 7-6 as a starter, throwing for 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns.
It is expected that Minshew will compete with second-year man Aidan O’Connell for the Raiders’ starting job, though the team could always add someone else to the competition via the upcoming NFL Draft. The Raiders are considered a team that could look to move up.
