The 2020 NFL Draft came and went and the Las Vegas Raiders went against most mocks that said they’d pick up a quarterback. Some prognosticators see the Raiders selecting one in 2021.
Without playing a single down of football this year, some still don’t think the Raiders are set at quarterback. Fair or not, the lack of wins is what drives this narrative, incumbent Derek Carr is an above average signal caller with plenty of individual records to back that up. In the NFL, however, you’re judged by team wins and success, both of which the Raiders haven’t had since 2016. For many fans, the signing of Marcus Mariota indicates the team wanted an insurance policy in case things go awry early.
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The Scenarios
If the team does indeed turn it around this season, early prognostications for a quarterback in 2021 go out the door. If the Raiders regress, the possibility all of a sudden becomes a certaintity. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports believes that using SportsLine’s projected wins for the team, they’ll pick Jamie Newman, quarterback from Wake Forest. Wilsons further commented: “Newman transferred from Wake Forest to Georgia and he’ll enter next season on everyone’s first-round radar. Added bonus: Las Vegas added three WRs in the draft.”
Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who originally gathered the mock scenarios, also shared Fox Sport’s Jason McIntyre’s plot. “In free agency, the Raiders went heavy on defense; in the draft, three of their first four picks were skill position players. For Jon Gruden to put his true stamp on the team, he needs his own QB, and Newman, who was dynamic at Wake Forest and will play for Georgia next season, might be that guy.”
Is Newman The Answer?
The mutual feeling between McIntyre and Wilson is that the Raiders have assembled a potential offensive powerhouse, but need a top echelon quarterback. Again, I emphasize that Carr might turn it around this year with such a bevy of weapons, which would mean Newman wouldn’t even appear on general manager Mike Mayock’s radar.
Newman for his part has had a successful collegiate career at Wake Forest, throwing for 35 career touchdowns and only 16 interceptions. A career completion percentage of 60.5% while averaging almost eight yards per pass attempt are indicative he’d be an intriguing prospect for the Raiders. For now, fans will have to wait and see if Carr can overcome the noise and rise to the occasion in 2020, perhaps talk like this will disappear.
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