It looks like Derek Carr will be the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2021. Nevertheless, the news the Silver and Black could be a potential landing spot for star quarterback Russell Wilson caught everyone off guard. On the off chance he were indeed available via trade, would it be a bad thing to make an aggressive push to get him?
Wilson’s agent Mark Rodgers says the quarterback hasn’t demanded a trade, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Moreover, he wants to play in Seattle but if a trade were considered, he would only go to the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears, and the Raiders. Keep in mind it’s not a fact Rusell will be available via trade. Instead, Schefter is laying out a hypothetical scenario.
A trade involving Wilson would require something close to three first-round selections. Although it may seem excessive, Top-3 quarterbacks are rarely available. Only Patrick Mahomes and possibly Aaron Rodgers are currently better than the Wisconsin standout, so whoever got him would get a top-echelon signal-caller.
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The Raiders’ offense would improve significantly with Russell Wilson
Derek Carr is a good quarterback. Depending on the year he can statistically fluctuate from the sixth-best to the 13th best. However, Wilson is significantly better and if the Raiders have a top 10 offense with Carr, they could have an elite unit with Wilson at the helm.
Fixing the defense should be the Raiders’ biggest priority this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look for ways to improve on offense. You could argue Las Vegas should use the picks it would take to trade for Wilson to fix the defense. Alas, the current regime has a suspect track record drafting players in the first round and could be better off using those selections to acquire proven players.
Why not shoot for the moon?
You could also make the case the Silver and Black are over the cap. However, perennial playoff contenders like the Rams and the Saints always are always in the red but always find ways to make it work. Smart accounting by Las Vegas could help them get any player they wanted. It’s just a matter of pulling the trigger.
There’s also the Carr conundrum. Some say that there’s no reason to upgrade at quarterback. Nevertheless, contenders are always looking for an edge and ways to get better. Last offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Tom Brady a blockbuster deal to join them. He helped them win their second Super Bowl in Franchise history. Back in 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs aggressively pursued Patrick Mahomes in the selection meeting and they don’t have to worry about the quarterback position for the next ten years and probably more.
The point is that future favors the bold. Meanwhile, those teams that are perfectly content the way they are will perpetually sit around the 8-8 mark. There’s nothing wrong with Carr, but there’s nothing great with him either. If Watson or Wilson somehow became available, the Silver and Black should make a strong push for them.
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Top Photo: Elaine Thomson/Associated Press