Derek Carr is the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback but now there’s depth at the position meaning the organization should make it a priority to start nurturing signal-callers.
In the short term, Carr is the quarterback for the Raiders. He may be or not be in the team’s long term plans, but that shouldn’t deter them from drafting and developing one. General manager Mike Mayock’s on the record saying that they’re always looking for ways to upgrade all positions in the roster. If he wants to walk the talk, there will be plenty of signal-callers in this year’s draft.
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Whether it’s Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts or someone else, the Raiders need to draft one quarterback and think long term. When it comes to great quarterbacks, teams are absolute about their support for them. The Raiders have not gone that far with Carr and even if he is part of the organization’s future, they would benefit from developing another signal-caller.
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DeShone Kizer and Nathan Peterman don’t seem to be the answer and unless the Raiders know something most of us are unaware of, they won’t be the face of the franchise anytime soon. Marcus Mariota could take over the starting job, but that is easier said than done. So why not go ahead and draft one early, the benefits would outweigh the potential downsides.
Other teams have had a steady influx at the quarterback position and were better because of it. Before Tom Brady went to Tampa, the Patriots drafted signal-callers on a constant basis and they didn’t skimp on resources. Throughout Brady’s tenure with the team they allocated picks to Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Danny Etling, Ryan Mallet, Matt Cassel and Jarred Stidman, who is currently anointed to start.
In spite of ironman Brett Favre not letting his position go, the Packers under Mike Holmgren drafted Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck. Even after Holmgren was long gone, Green Bay kept on selecting signal-callers and eventually found Favre’s succesor, Aaron Rodgers. In the meantime, all those players that came and went were changed for picks or signed lucrative contracts once they hit free agency.
The Patriots and the Packers have shown it pays off to develop quarterbacks, they can be traded if teams are buying high or if they leave, the Raiders could get compensatory picks. The worst that could happen is that the prospect doesn’t pan out, but that isn’t different from any other position.
Drafting and developing quarterbacks bears fruit in the long run. It’s time the Raiders start doing it.
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