What the Las Vegas Raiders will do at the quarterback position remains the biggest roster question for the team this offseason. The team could address it through free agency, the draft, or via trade and there are intriguing options in each path.
Much of the focus has been on the draft or free agency so far with Kirk Cousins being mentioned for the latter while moving up in the draft for Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels has been rumored as well. But there is a very talented young quarterback who could be acquired via trade as well, and the Raiders are apparently interested.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the Raiders have real interest in potentially trading for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields:
There’s another team that I’m told has genuine interest in acquiring Fields and will explore trading for him: the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jimmy Garoppolo, whom the team signed to a three-year, $67.5-million deal just last year, is on his way out and is expected to be cut by the organization. Garoppolo was the choice of Josh McDaniels and never panned out, playing just seven games last season. He was eventually replaced by rookie Aidan O’Connell, who presently sits at the top of the depth chart.
A move like this would make a lot of sense for the Raiders as it gives them someone who is somewhat established and has proven he can have some level of success at the NFL level but also is young enough to build and grow with.
Fields does come with his share of issues as he hasn’t shown he can win consistently with his throwing ability just yet, though he showed great improvement down the stretch of last season, leading the Bears to four wins in their last six games. He has improved his completion percentage in each of his three NFL seasons and remains a dynamic threat with his feet as well.
Which route the Raiders go remains unclear, and it was reported recently that the Bears intend on keeping Fields, so perhaps this is all for nothing. But the team is obviously exploring all potential options as they should.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco split on QB position?
More important for the Raiders is that the franchise as a whole is united on the route in which to go to find their quarterback, and apparently, that isn’t the case at the moment.
Recent reports suggest that head coach Antonio Pierce prefers Aidan O’Connell to be the starter next season, while GM Tom Telesco wants to bring in a big name to man the position. Which route the team goes will play itself out over the ensuing weeks and months.
