It’s no question that the Las Vegas Raiders are searching for a quarterback this offseason. Many NFL analysts have suggested the Raiders draft a quarterback in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft, whether it be Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Many players in the 1st Round could elevate the Raiders’ roster even further than either one of those quarterbacks.
However, now that the Raiders have traded for Seahawks’ QB Geno Smith, does that take them out of the QB market completely? Or just out of the QB first-round market?
Smith has been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL in the past three years, and it turns out that the Raiders were willing to send a 3rd Round pick to bring on Geno Smith to be a potential starter for Los Vegas. This is a brilliant move by the Raiders’ front office, bringing in the 12-year veteran.
During his time as a starter for the Seahawks the past three seasons, Smith had 12,226 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions.
Smith offers playoff experience, a veteran perspective, and an underdog mentality that would fit perfectly with where the Raiders franchise is right now. Head Coach Pete Carroll has a history with Geno, but does the Pro Bowl quarterback offer enough spark for a young Vegas team?
Here are three more quarterbacks whom the Raiders could pair alongside Geno Smith.
Raiders Could Still Sign Justin Fields
In my opinion, Justin Fields is the most intriguing quarterback on the Free Agency market. Fields has a remarkable amount of potential as a young quarterback and has a ton of experience at the professional level.
During his four years in the NFL, Fields has produced 7,780 passing yards, 2,509 rushing yards, 64 total touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. The only issue with Fields is that he isn’t known as a winning quarterback.
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Fields’ time with Chicago was a complete nightmare, and he never truly got an opportunity to shine last season in his lone season as a Steeler.
Taking a chance on Fields as a potential backup could be a genius move or more of the same disappointing quarterback play the Raiders have seen for over a decade.
Trade Back And Draft Jaxson Dart
Dart has been gaining a ton of traction after his time at the NFL Combine. There have even been rumours circulating that Dart could be taken in the 1st Round. While I think that Dart isn’t a 1st Round prospect, I think if he is available in the 2nd or 3rd Round, the Raiders should jump at the opportunity to draft him.
Jaxson Dart is currently the 6th-ranked quarterback and the 126th overall prospect, according to PFF. The 6’2”, 225-pound quarterback spent three seasons with Ole Miss and one with the USC Trojans. The former Rebel ended his college career with 11,970 passing yards, 1,543 rushing yards, and 95 total touchdowns.
Dart could be a Day 1 starter for the Raiders but could also end up being another draft bust. However, being able to sit behind Smith for a season or two could do wonders for Dart. Do his years with Ole Miss translate into a winning quarterback in the NFL?
Draft Quinn Ewers In Middle Rounds
Ewers is a Day 2 or 3 player who could fall to the Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft. At one point in his college career, Ewers was known as someone who could be the number one pick in the draft. However, with some poor performances last season because of lingering injuries, his draft stock fell dramatically.
Quinn Ewers is currently the 8th-ranked quarterback and the 139th overall prospect, according to PFF. The 6’2”, 210-pound quarterback spent three seasons with the Texas Longhorns and one season with Ohio State. The former Longhorn ended his college career with 9,128 passing yards, 76 total touchdowns, and 24 interceptions.
Ewers had a ton of promise as a future player in the NFL, yet could his injury last season potentially be more impactful than anyone originally thought?