The Las Vegas Raiders‘ quarterback depth chart figures to look quite a bit different entering the 2024 season. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be released, while Brian Hoyer could also be cut.
Parting ways with both signal-callers would leave the Raiders with just 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell as the only remaining quarterback on the club’s roster — an outcome that head coach Antonio Pierce recently called a “worst-case scenario.”
Raiders’ Veteran QB Options in 2024
Appearing on The Pivot Podcast last week, Pierce said Las Vegas will turn over every stone as it attempts to find a long-term solution under center.
“The wild card is the quarterback,” Pierce said. “What are we going to do? Well, we’ve got to put a plan together.”
“There are always quarterbacks (that) there are ways to get. Everybody has a price. There’s always a price. There’s always something that people are willing to do, like, ‘You’re giving me that, for this?’ You can create a little doubt there, a little interest as far as if they want to make that move.”
The Raiders own the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, likely putting them out of range to draft quarterback prospects Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels, barring a trade up the board. Las Vegas could consider options such as J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Michael Penix Jr., but Pierce also suggested a veteran quarterback addition could be on the table.
With over $35 million in projected cap space (and more coming once Garoppolo’s release is processed), the Raiders can afford to make a quarterback move this offseason. Here’s who they might contemplate acquiring next month.
Justin Fields
First-year Raiders OC Luke Getsy coached Justin Fields in Chicago over the past two seasons before being fired in January. After being hired in Vegas, Getsy called Fields “one of the best human beings” he’s worked with, lauding the former first-rounder’s “consistent approach.”
However, Getsy didn’t seem to get the best out of Fields, who still struggled as a passer in 2023. Any team that trades for Fields is likely making a two-year commitment, as the acquiring club will probably have to pick up Fields’ fifth-year option for 2025.
Russell Wilson
Although the Denver Broncos have indicated Russell Wilson could still return next season, he’s overwhelmingly likely to be released before his 2025 salary becomes fully guaranteed. Wilson will still collect his guaranteed 2024 salary from Denver, allowing him to sign a league-minimum contract with his next team.
Wilson could stick in the AFC West by landing with the Raiders and would have an excellent shot of earning Las Vegas’ starting job. Few teams around the league will offer as wide-open a quarterback room as the Raiders, and inking Wilson wouldn’t force Pierce and Co. to give up O’Connell’s development.
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins will hit the open market, as his contract structure with the Minnesota Vikings will prevent a franchise tag. But Cousins will likely have better opportunities around the league if he opts to leave the NFC North. Signing up to play Patrick Mahomes twice per year probably doesn’t make sense for Cousins as he tries to win his first Super Bowl.
Baker Mayfield
Unlike Cousins, Baker Mayfield could be franchised by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if the two sides can’t reach a long-term agreement. Either way, Mayfield seems likely to stick in Tampa Bay after posting a career season in 2023.
But if Mayfield gets free, he might be interested in playing with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers in Las Vegas. The Raiders’ defense showed tremendous improvement down the stretch under Patrick Graham, and the club could potentially make a Wild Card run if Mayfield offered a repeated performance next year.
Gardner Minshew
NFL teams might’ve thought they already knew what Gardner Minshew was capable of heading into the 2023 campaign. But the longtime backup upended the narrative around his career, finishing 13th in QBR (59.5) after replacing injured rookie Anthony Richardson. A return to Indianapolis could be awkward, given that Minshew won’t usurp Richardson any time soon.
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Minshew could make sense for the Raiders if they select McCarthy or Nix in the first round of the draft, especially if Vegas intends to let a rookie quarterback sit in Year 1. If the Raiders roll with O’Connell, Minshew has enough fringe-starter ability to offer training competition.
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