The Las Vegas Raiders have made more moves this offseason than anyone can keep track of, and that includes the quarterback position. Head coach Josh McDaniels seems to have finally solidified his quarterback room following the draft. So, let’s take a look at where they all stand.
Let’s rank all of the Raiders’ signal-callers
No. 1 – Derek Carr
This one seems obvious, but remember when Raider Nation was calling for Marcus Mariota to start last season? What seems obvious is not always so. McDaniels seems to have already put any rumors to rest regarding his thoughts on Derek Carr, who is heading into his ninth season as the Raiders’ QB1.
His on-field play has its ups and downs. He is a consistently reliable leader but struggles to maintain pocket presence and often appears to force the ball to his first read. This, of course, could be partially due to a weak offensive line. Carr and his new offensive line will take the field for their second season together in 2022, leaving room for optimism.
On top of getting more time with his offensive line, Carr also has his favorite new target back. It is expected that his chemistry with Davante Adams will be palpable by Week 1, thanks to a blockbuster trade in April. Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow are also among the top tier of their positions, giving Carr arguably the best-receiving corps of his career.
Carr received an extension this offseason, tying him to Las Vegas through 2025. But don’t be surprised if he begins to mentor young quarterbacks in the near future.
No. 2 – Jarrett Stidham
Stidham is one of many new Raiders familiar with McDaniels’ playbook. The two have spent the previous two seasons together in New England. After spending months building his new offense, McDaniels traded a sixth-round pick for Stidham in early May.
Stidham’s experience in a Patriots-style offense is what lands him at number two in these power rankings. In 2021, Stidham appeared in five games for New England. He ended the season with 256 passing yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference.
At the same time, McDaniels demonstrated through the trade that he finds Stidham to be an important asset in the quarterback room, leading many to believe he will land the backup spot at this rate.
No. 3 – Nick Mullens
Nick Mullens comes in third in the Raiders’ quarterback power rankings. He brings a lot of experience compared to Stidham, but his numbers don’t lie. Mullens loves to throw interceptions almost as much as he loves to throw touchdowns, which is the last thing the Raiders need on the field.
Mullens has started 17 games over four years. In those 17 games, he has thrown for 26 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Despite his less-than-ideal stat line, Mullens carries other talents. His above-average football IQ is what draws many teams to sign him. In 2020, Louis Riddick of ESPN told reporters that Mullens’ coaches felt as if he was the smartest quarterback on the 49ers’ roster.
Although his above-average football IQ may make it easier for him to learn McDaniels’ playbook quickly, he still won’t have as much experience with it as Stidham. In the event the baton is ever passed in his direction, Mullens has shown he is a very reliable QB3.
What other quarterbacks are on the roster?
Currently, Sin City is home to four quarterbacks. The fourth is rookie Chase Garbers. Garbers signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL draft. He started 11 of 12 games for Cal in 2021. He ended the season with a passer rating of 136.14, good for eighth in the Pac-12.
Along with these four quarterbacks, the Raiders also worked out NFL veteran Colin Kaepernick on Wednesday.
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