I know, it’s weird to talk about a third string quarterback, but it’s intriguing to wonder why the Raiders grabbed him. I’m a Notre Dame guy and wanted DeShone Kizer from the start to back up Carr.
Competitions and contracts
Quarterback Mike Glennon is on a one-year deal and I don’t see him being re-signed. Nathan Peterman may be just a bait project, someone to build just to be traded, or he and Kizer will battle for main backup next year. Head coach Jon Gruden does love him after all and he would most likely be number two now if not for his injury.
With just over a million on the books for Kizer next year, I would be shocked if he wasn’t in training camp. I expect the signal-caller to win that camp battle if it comes to that too.
Related: Raiders Loss in Retrospect: The Better Team Won
Targeted Connection
Why would Raiders pick up Kizer’s rookie contract as soon as he hit the waiver wire?Consider this, Oakland’s general manager Mike Mayock had him as top QB prospect on his board, even above Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Kizer was regarded as a guy that should hold the clipboard for a couple years, and then shine. Mayock felt at the moment that Kizer had the biggest ceiling of all the prospects.
Now, how about the Notre Dame connection? Mayock used to be an analyst for NBC and cover the Fighting Irish games. Gruden, well he grew up in South Bend and his father was a coach.
Thrown to the wolves
Face it, Kizer hadn’t actually gotten a solid chance. He was thrust into starting for the Browns at a low point, their 0-16 year. He ended the year with 2,894 yards, 11 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and a rating of 60.5
Cleveland then shipped him off to back up Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers the following year. Kizer was thrown in against Bears after they took out Rodgers. That game, he had 187 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Nowadays, he’s where Mayock wanted him all along: On the sidelines watching, and learning. If Kizer can keep his mechanics from breaking down in close games, he still has plenty of time to be a star. We may not know where he’s at in his development right now, but Mayock does.
Gruden has his Peterman, Mayock has his Kizer, and we may have a nice backup battle next season.
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