With the NFL Scouting Combine underway, the Las Vegas Raiders are likely keeping a close eye on a couple of key positions. Of course the team could use some help at linebacker, and has expressed interest in Isaiah Simmons, but wide receiver is another area that could use help.
Last season, the Raiders’ wide receiver room was a revolving door of players that tried to contribute, if only for a few games. Despite that, the Raiders and Derek Carr had strong passing years as the team finished with the ninth-most yards through the air out of 32 teams.
Carr finished the season with career highs in passing yards and completion rate, while having a career-low year for pass attempts. Despite his solid play, the rumors have swirled that the Raiders are interested in adding Tom Brady to the mix in favor of Carr.
For the main shot caller, head coach Jon Gruden, he has grown tired of addressing rumors and instead will focus on his work and some good tunes, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic:
“I really think Derek’s a heck of a player, and I’ve got a lot of respect for what he has done, with some tough circumstances. I’m not going to answer every media rumor out there, [I] just can’t do it. I’m just going to listen to my Sirius [XM Radio] rock’n’roll, Classic Vinyl, and keep working. But I love what Derek Carr did, love what he brings to our team and anxious to continue to build around him.”
The NFL Scouting Combine is going to be the best place for the Raiders to find some more talent to support Carr. With the excellent crop of rookies the Raiders drafted last year, the combine should be a very fruitful time of year from Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock.
Gruden acknowledged that the team needs more pieces to support Carr, but also expressed that he wants to help his quarterback succeed in other ways, even hinting at potentially making a change at the position.:
“At quarterback, sometimes you get better because of your experience in the system,” Gruden said. “Sometimes you get better because of your supporting cast, and sometimes you get better because the playcalling is better. So we’ve got to continue to improve at that position, and we’re set out to do that, no matter how we do it”
With Gruden and Mayock both essentially being non-committal about Carr as their quarterback moving forward, the rumors about a change should only continue as free agency and the draft approaches.
