Even though the Las Vegas Raiders added veteran Gardner Minshew II to go along with promising second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, the team could still choose to add another player at the position through the draft. And Raiders legend Charles Woodson has an idea of who the ideal prospect should be.
Woodson, of course, is a proud alum of the University of Michigan who finally got over the hump and won the College Football National Championship this season. And the man who led them there, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, could be someone the Raiders have their eye on with their first-round pick.
That would make Woodson very happy as the Raiders legend feels that life would be perfect if Las Vegas were to take McCarthy in the upcoming NFL Draft, via Aidan Champion of Sports Illustrated:
“I mean, life couldn’t get more perfect, could it?” Woodson said of the possibility of Las Vegas drafting McCarthy when he joined “Mad Dog Sports Radio” last Wednesday.
“I have a ton of respect for J.J. McCarthy and the way he led that Michigan Wolverines team last year,” Woodson said. ” … It would take him a little time to acclimate. I think he needs a little more time to develop, but if they [the Raiders] were to land that young man, I think his ceiling is very high, and that would be awesome if he was to don the silver and black.”
McCarthy is viewed in that second-tier of quarterbacks after the presumed top-3 of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. McCarthy, along with Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix are all extremely talented as well and, if the Raiders don’t move up in the draft, could be targets if the team is locked in on taking a quarterback in the first round.
McCarthy was excellent in leading Michigan to an undefeated season and National Championship, completing 72.3% of his passes for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions. His numbers may not look as impressive as others, but that is also due in large part to the Wolverines having a dominant defense and outstanding run game.
Regardless, Woodson is right in that McCarthy’s ceiling is very high and the Raiders must do their due diligence to see if he is the right player who could be this team’s franchise quarterback of the future.
Raiders add former Vikings running back Alexander Mattison
In the meantime, the Raiders continue to make meaningful additions in free agency with their most recent having a big impact on whoever is under center for the team.
The Raiders announced they have agreed to a deal with former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison, giving them some extra depth at the position. Mattison spent the first five years of his career with the Vikings, primarily as a backup, who had some big games in spot starts.
Zamir White shined in the last four games of the season for the Raiders and could still be in line as the team’s starter, but he and Mattison make a more than formidable duo.
More must-reads: