One of the most intriguing storylines this offseason is the future of the Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback position. The team has been in search of stability at the position since Derek Carr’s departure in 2023, and with their new leadership under head coach Pete Carroll, they are eyeing their next franchise quarterback to start making playoff runs.
The Raiders have no shortage of potential quarterbacks to choose from, but one new name that has recently entered discussions is Sam Darnold. With the Raiders picking outside of the top five in the draft, several league execs believe Darnold could be a solid choice.
Multiple NFL Executives Believe Sam Darnold Could Be the Raiders’ QB Answer
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently shed light on the growing speculation that Darnold might be a good fit for the Raiders, especially given their draft position.
“Multiple league execs have predicted that Sam Darnold is a viable option, given Las Vegas is picking outside of the top five in the draft,” Fowler reported. “Others believe the Raiders will draft a QB high. And heck, [Pete] Carroll’s old friend Russell Wilson is available. But every option should be exhausted here.”
Darnold’s career has been anything but predictable. After being selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, he struggled with consistency in New York before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. Though his time with the Panthers was rocky, there were glimpses of potential during his two seasons with the team.
He then had a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, where he started just one game.
The next season he ended up in Minnesota, where he had a career-defining year, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and finishing the regular season with a QB+ rating of 79.0 (B).
With the quarterback position not offering much depth in this year’s draft, Darnold could be a more cost-effective solution for the Raiders.
The Raiders Have Other Options To Consider
While Darnold is a name worth watching, the Raiders aren’t necessarily zeroing in on him. As Fowler points out, there’s a strong belief among some execs that Las Vegas might go in a different direction entirely — possibly drafting Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward as their quarterback with a higher pick.
On top of that, Russell Wilson’s name has also come up in some discussions. The former Seattle Seahawks star, who has since struggled finding form with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers, could provide an experienced option for the Raiders as they try to stabilize the quarterback position.
Wilson’s history with Pete Carroll makes this an extra appealing choice, though the Raiders would need to carefully weigh the risks given how the 2014 Super Bowl champion has looked in recent years.
