Whether you like it or not, the addition of Jimmy Garoppolo to the Las Vegas Raiders makes sense for a few reasons. The most obvious is, of course, the connection between himself and the Raiders’ power duo of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler. When you really stop to think about it, all three men know how to win. This is, of course, where this notion is coming from with regard to the new “Raider way.” Basically, this trio has won, and if it plays out this offseason, the Raiders could be doing some winning of their own.
Jimmy Garoppolo and the “new” Raiders?
Most people on social media used to go out of their way to discredit wins as a QB stat. For years, Derek Carr apologists would cite this argument. However, like anything else, agendas shift. Many of those who once vehemently defended Carr now find themselves distraught and are trying to discredit Garoppolo’s winning record. With the San Francisco 49ers, “Jimmy G” assembled a 38-17 record as their quarterback. Even so, many point to a dominant defense, a powerful and creative running game, and a host of other excuses as the reasons for Garoppolo’s success. It’s funny how that works, isn’t it?
Nonetheless, Garoppolo was a winner, plain and simple. Nicknames and tropes aside, NFL locker rooms don’t concern themselves with what fans talk about. The fact is, if you don’t think the Raiders’ locker room will embrace a winner such as Garoppolo, you’ve got another thing coming. Is he a game manager? Perhaps. Then again, give Garoppolo a trio of Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, and Darren Waller, under McDaniels’ guise, and good things will happen.
Funny enough, the biggest reason why Garoppolo makes sense is that picking him up gives you a proven bridge. The Raiders could still realistically draft C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson. An ideal plan would see any of these rookies sit behind Garoppolo for two, maybe three years. At the same time, if you assemble a viable defense combined with the aforementioned offense, you will remain competitive. You do that, and you justify your position as head coach and general manager to the man whose opinion is the only one that matters, owner Mark Davis.
*Top Photo: Tony Avelar/Associated Press