Raiders are advised not to add a star quarterback who is probably moving.
This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders are anticipated to pursue quarterbacks, and they will have choices. Russell Wilson as a quarterback may be released by the Denver Broncos this offseason.
He still has five years and $242.5 million left on his contract, so a trade is unlikely. Wilson ought to be able to sign a contract for a reasonable price if he is cut. But according to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, Wilson would be best served by the Raiders this offseason.
In a column published on January 25, Ballentine stated, “[The Raiders] might be tempted to sign Russell Wilson to a bounce-back contract since they’re not really in position to draft one of the top prospects this year.”
The Raiders should, nevertheless, take into account what happened when Wilson was paired with a head coach in his first season. Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett’s partnership resulted in one of the veteran’s worst seasons.
Ballentine thinks that if Antonio Pierce, the new head coach, didn’t have to oversee Wilson, it would be better.
In 2024, he continued, “the Raiders have an opportunity to start fresh on offense.” “Pierce performed admirably in his role as the team’s temporary head coach, but leading a quarterback with Wilson’s level of experience is a difficult task for an NFL head coach.”
Wilson doesn’t cause problems off the field, but he gives a franchise a certain amount of star power that can be challenging to control, particularly given that he hasn’t performed at a high level the past two seasons.
Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, and Justin Fields are the three veteran quarterbacks who are receiving the most attention as they may become available this offseason. The only player who will be free agent is Cousins, and wide receiver Davante Adams recently expressed interest in playing alongside him. But at 35, he recently suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. He would be more logical for an established squad hoping to contend.
Fields’ youth makes him an intriguing figure. He hasn’t shown himself to be a reliable passer, which is the problem. In a season, he has never thrown for more than 2,600 yards. To acquire him, the Raiders would also need to make a trade with the Chicago Bears. Fields has the most potential of any veteran option available in the NFL, but he also entails the highest level of risk. Nevertheless, he would probably be the best veteran option for the Raiders to pursue if the asking price is low enough to acquire him.
The Raiders may give Aidan O’Connell another chance if they are unable to find a quarterback option this offseason that they are happy with. He had a strong final quarter of play and finished the season with 12 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions.
Above all, he made an impression on the owner. O’Connell received praise from Mark Davis for his 2023 performance.
“I felt Aidan did a really nice job,” Davis said in an interview with Vic Tafur of The Athletic on January 26. “He had a few victories. He triumphed over the Chiefs. That’s quite a bit. He outscored the Chargers by 63 points.
Although O’Connell has little potential, Antonio Pierce showed he could succeed with him. If the Raiders are unable to select a top prospect in the draft, he might be their best backup plan.
