The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t bring in the established Pete Carroll to coach an extensive rebuild and continue tanking for years to come. Instead, Carroll is expected to build a strong culture and win games now in hopes of quieting the complaints and hatred directed toward the organization.
It will be tough to do so with a quarterback room of Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell, leaving the Raiders with a few options. Las Vegas can potentially use the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the trade market, or free agency to address their void at quarterback.
If the front office opts for the latter, a 6’3″, 35-touchdown quarterback is searching for a payday after the best season of his rollercoaster career.
Raiders Predicted To Sign QB Sam Darnold
Despite crumbling in the final games of the year with the Minnesota Vikings, Sam Darnold proved he has the tools to be a starting quarterback.
This is why NFL analyst Matt Bowen of ESPN named the Raiders as the best landing spot for Darnold, predicting he will help jumpstart the Carroll era in Las Vegas.
“With the transition to coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Raiders could finally solve their QB issue in free agency by signing Darnold,” Bowen wrote.
“Las Vegas was 30th in QBR in 2024 (40.4), and Darnold’s 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdown throws for the Vikings both ranked fifth in the league. And in Vegas, Kelly could scheme for Darnold’s arm talent, while also using his mobility to attack the edges.”
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ESPN slotted Darnold as their No. 6 free agent, while PFSN ranked the Vikings QB at No. 10.
“Two bad performances under the bright lights of what was essentially two playoff games are going to have a major impact on how Darnold is viewed this offseason, especially with fans and media outside of those who regularly saw him play,” PFSN’s Ben Rolfe wrote. “That is somewhat unfair on a quarterback who was ranked 12th overall in QB+ in the regular season.”
It’s clear he is the consensus top quarterback available this summer.
The Raiders’ offense was deemed one of the worst in the NFL by PFSN, according to its Offense+ metric, and arguably the only reason they weren’t No. 32 is because of tight end Brock Bowers. Although Bowers seemingly broke every TE rookie record in the books, Darnold, PFSN’s No. 12 QB, would still see a downgrade in his weapon room.
Signing with Las Vegas would give Darnold a real shot to prove himself as a franchise QB and could do so under the coaching of Carroll and the ownership of Tom Brady.
