The plan at quarterback is relatively murky for the Las Vegas Raiders right now. Jimmy Garoppolo was obviously the choice all along following the end of the Derek Carr era. Garoppolo’s familiarity and experience with head coach Josh McDaniels surely played a part. Now, heading into Year 2 with McDaniels and Dave Ziegler at the helm, planning for the future while being “competitive” right now is an arduous task. So, what exactly is going to happen? That’s anyone’s guess; however, that doesn’t stop folks from chiming in.
For example, longtime Raiders radio man J.T. The Brick made some interesting comments with regards to Garoppolo. In particular, with regard to the notion that Garoppolo is just on board to keep the seat warm for a rookie.
“Jimmy Garoppolo is a heck of a player and Jimmy Garoppolo can win, and Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t here to be a bridge anything. He’s not going to be a bridge. If they decide to go in a different direction after a year, it’s not going to be Jimmy’s choice. Jimmy wants to be a starter in this league, and he wants to win a championship.”
Now, it’s important to remember that, more often than not, “The Brick” is simply doing his job of hyping up the Raiders. Some take what he says with a grain of salt, but it’s hard not to consider some of what he’s saying. Garoppolo is a winner, and that’s very true. He didn’t come to the Raiders to be a placeholder; it’s not far-fetched to think that he’s been sold on Ziegler’s vision, or else why sign on the dotted line?
ESPN Insider offers a different take on the Raiders’ QB conundrum…
All offseason, we’ve heard about how the Raiders want to draft a quarterback in the first round. They’ve certainly done their due diligence, but that’s not breaking news. ESPN’s Todd McShay shared his thoughts, which, in their own way, conflict with the commonplace belief being held at the moment. More importantly, McShay casted doubt on Will Levis being the pick at No. 7 for the Raiders.
“For those wondering whether Las Vegas could jump on Levis if he’s available, I’ll just say I’ve heard buzz that it isn’t interested in using a high pick on a QB unless Young or Stroud were miraculously available. Bringing in Garoppolo fills the void, and the Raiders can always add a passer later in the draft or go hunting for a younger option next year.”
One look at social media and you can see that many Raiders fans are livid about the prospect of selecting Levis. On the other hand, those who are familiar with his game understand that Levis could very well end up being a quality NFL starter if coached and developed correctly. Which, in case you didn’t know, is what McDaniels is professedly an expert at; he’s a quarterback guru. Levis would surely put that notion to the test. Thankfully, McDaniels could develop Levis while getting the Raiders back into the playoffs with Garoppolo under center.
Then again, this Raiders team as constructed won’t be winning much with so many holes on the defensive side. Perhaps that No. 7 pick will be a defensive starter. If that’s the case, maybe Garoppolo is indeed more than just a “bridge.” Still, Ziegler could still go with another quarterback prospect later in the draft. At this point, who really knows anything?
*Top Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft: Should Dave Ziegler Go With Will Levis At No. 7?