Just 24 hours ago, it was looking likely that the Raiders would enter the 2025 NFL season with Matthew Stafford as their QB. But in the 11th hour, after Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams met face to face, they were able to strike a deal that kept him in LA.
Reports indicated that the Raiders and Stafford had agreed to a framework on what a contract would look like, and then it was up to figuring out the compensation that the Rams wanted.
LA wanted at least a first-round pick, and it sounds like the Raiders did not want to give that much up. So, what do the Raiders do now?
According to Adam Schefter, the Raiders will still look to the free-agent market and try to add a veteran quarterback that way.
Raiders Will Look To Add Veteran QB In Free Agency
According to Schefter, “The Las Vegas Raiders now are expected to investigate veteran quarterback options that include Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Sam Darnold, per sources.”
Interestingly enough, Aaron Rodgers was not included in the list of potential options. The New York Giants have pivoted to Rodgers, so perhaps the Raiders do not want to get into a bidding war. Or they could want more than a one-year rental, and these three options would give them that.
Russell Wilson is favored to land back in Pittsburgh, but there is a lot of familiarity with head coach Pete Carroll. All indications are that they have patched things up after he was traded by Carroll to the Denver Broncos, so the reunion is possible. Wilson played his best football with Carroll in Seattle, and the duo went to two Super Bowls, winning one.
Justin Fields is an interesting option. The former 11th-overall pick is still just 25 years old. He has not been able to find the same success in the NFL as he did in college, but the idea of pairing him with OC Chip Kelly is very intriguing. It would be the offense most tailored to his skill set, so he could potentially break out in Vegas.
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Sam Darnold is the wild card. He is only 27 years old but is a high-risk, high-reward option. He broke out with the Minnesota Vikings, but how much of that was Kevin O’Connell’s system, and how much was it Darnold exercising past demons? Chip Kelly will run a very different system, so would Darnold be able to adapt and find the same success?
There is also the unknown of what Minnesota is going to do with him. If he hits free agency, then regardless of fit, the Raiders need to meet with him and see what the market dictates. But if the Vikings tag him, is it worth the assets that it would take to trade for him?
The Raiders are also doing their due diligence with the rookie quarterbacks that they could select with the 6th overall pick.
They took a big swing on Matthew Stafford, but there are still viable options out there that can have success with the Silver and Black.