October has given way to November, and the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves at 2-5 as we near the halfway mark. With teams either now succeeding or struggling, certain deficiencies are starting to stand out like a sore thumb. As for the Raiders, help is needed at several critical positions, which no doubt general manager Dave Ziegler is aware of. To kick off our coverage for these lists, we’ll be ranking the top 15 players in each group from here until the draft. You can expect a monthly update for each position. Quarterback continues to be a lightning rod for discussion among Raider Nation; that’s nothing new.
The difference between 2022 and 2023 will be a much-improved quarterback class. There’s a reason Kenny Pickett was the only signal-caller taken in the first round this past April. Next year’s draft could see four, maybe five quarterbacks taken in the first round. Does that mean the Raiders will take one? In all honesty, it’ll depend on how the season plays out. For now, let’s just monitor the top prospects and go from there.
Raiders Mock: Top 10 Quarterbacks Right Now
As you can see there are stark physical differences within the top ten. There’s a lot more that goes into drafting a quarterback than size but it’s a concern that’s been raised with regard to Bryce Young, for example. The biggest riser across draft boards with regard to Hendon Hooker but now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, he’s placed himself in a position to be taken early in the first round.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud was proclaimed by many as the top quarterback before the college season began. The consummate “QB1” according to many scouts, this doesn’t mean that the others within the to five aren’t viable options next April.
| 1. Bryce Young | Alabama | 6’0″ | 194 lbs. |
| 2. Hendon Hooker | Tennessee | 6’4″ | 218 lbs. |
| 3. C.J. Stroud | Ohio State | 6’3″ | 218 lbs. |
| 4. Will Levis | Kentucky | 6’3″ | 232 lbs. |
| 5. Anthony Richardson | Florida | 6’4″ | 232 lbs. |
| 6. Stetson Bennett | Georgia | 5’11” | 190 lbs. |
| 7. Jaren Hall | BYU | 6’1″ | 205 lbs. |
| 8. Cameron Ward | Washington State | 6’2″ | 220 lbs. |
| 9. Dorian Thompson-Robinson | UCLA | 6’1″ | 205 lbs. |
| 10. Jordan Davis | Florida State | 6’1″ | 212 lbs. |
Drafting A Replacement For Derek Carr?
As far as the Raiders are concerned, many of the top quarterback prospects are a physical match for what they’re likely looking for. The fact is, the NFL has been trending toward mobile signal-callers for quite some time. In their case, mobility isn’t the first word that comes to mind when describing Derek Carr. If there was ever a draft to finally take a chance on the position, it’s going to be 2023.
On The Brink: 11-15
| 11. Bo Nix | Oregon | 6’3″ | 214 lbs. |
| 12. D.J. Uiagalelei | Clemson | 6’4″ | 235 lbs. |
| 13. Devin Leary | N.C. State | 6’1″ | 215 lbs. |
| 14. Tyler Van Dyke | Miami (FL) | 6’4″ | 224 lbs. |
| 15. Tanner McKee | Stanford | 6’6″ | 230 lbs. |
*Top Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images
