There’s still nothing but speculation regarding the Las Vegas Raiders and the quarterback position. There’s a chance Derek Carr returns and all the headlines were all smoke. That being said, who’s to say Jordan Love or Jalen Hurts wouldn’t look good in Silver and Black?
This offseason, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said that every position will be evaluated, quarterback included. Mayock recently had praise for Carr, but we all know that’s not always indicative of an approval stamp in the NFL. As far as potential college prospects, both Hurts and Love are becoming household names for many in Raider Nation.
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Raiders Draft: Should They Consider Jordan Love or Jalen Hurts In April?
Here’s the thing, for the Raiders to realistically consider one of these signal callers, some dominoes would have to fall. Namely Tom Brady, whose decision possibly means one of these two prospects end up becoming his backup. If Carr presumably stays put, it would be shocking to see Mayock pull the trigger on a first round quarterback. I believe they’d opt for a veteran backup if that were the case, think Nate Sudfeld or Marcus Mariota.
Jordan Love, 6’4″, Utah State
Love has the frame and his Combine numbers were overall solid: 4.74 in his 40 yard-dash, 35.5 inches in his vertical jump, and 7.21 seconds in the three-cone drill. The quarterback’s physical traits such as height, arm strength, and speed are undoubtedly his biggest assets heading into the NFL. He’s even drawn comparisons to Blake Bortles and Colin Kaepernick. Sitting behind Brady could allow head coach Jon Gruden to work on areas that need attention such as his mechanics.
What are the experts saying?
“His size, mobility and arm talent combined with his 2018 flashes could be a winning hand that leads a team into the future or a siren’s song of erratic play and unfulfilled potential.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
“Jordan Love has franchise quarterback qualities and should be regarded as a prospect with a Pro Bowl ceiling.” — Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network
Jalen Hurts, 6’1″, Oklahoma
The Texas native is a name many in Raider Nation are clamoring for, and rightfully so. Hurts is a mobile and accurate passer who possesses good arm strength and excellent tangibles. His Combine numbers were limited as he ran his 40 in 4.59 seconds, had a vertical jump of 35.0 inches, and a broad jump of 125.0 inches. As a dual threat quarterback, he could do what fans want from Derek Carr, tuck the ball and run. An interesting side note regarding Hurts: In his sole year with Oklahoma, he rushed for 1,298 yards. While a comparison to Tim Tebow isn’t exactly thrilling, when the former Gators signal-caller was on the field, you knew he could make things happen with his feet if all else failed. It’s also possible, though unlikely, Hurts might be there after the first round. Interesting indeed.
Raiders Draft: What are the experts saying?
“Like Tim Tebow, Hurts is a winning dual-threat quarterback known for his strength, toughness and character.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
“One of the most celebrated athletes wherever he’s been, Hurts is a winner, who also displays high levels of leadership… Hurts projects as a top-75 pick, but he still has a lot of developing to do as an overall passer in order to become a consistent starter.” — Jordan Reid, The Draft Network
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