The Las Vegas Raiders are going to undergo some major changes during the 2023 off-season. Quarterback Derek Carr is on his way out of town after nine seasons as the team’s starter. It will be the end of an era for the Raiders as Carr owns virtually all of their franchise passing records.
Carr’s inability to succeed in Josh McDaniels’ system was his undoing. After throwing for a career-high 4,804 yards and completing 68.4 percent of his passes in 2021, Carr completed only 60.8 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards in 15 games this season.
The dropoff was concerning given the fact that the Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams in the offseason to bolster the passing attack. Turnovers also remained a problem as Carr threw 14 more interceptions this season, matching his total from 2021.
In the market for a new quarterback this offseason, the Raiders will have a few avenues to go down. McDaniels could opt to bring in a veteran that he has some connections to, such as Jimmy Garoppolo. Or, they could seek out a young player for the team to develop.
The latter scenario could lead to Las Vegas making a big move during the 2023 NFL Draft. Currently slated to select No. 7 overall, the Raiders are a possible candidate to trade up with the Chicago Bears, who own the No. 1 overall pick.
That could be a costly move for the Raiders. The Houston Texans, who are picking second, almost assuredly will target a quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts, who pick 4th, are also in the market for a long-term solution at the quarterback position. The Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, who are picking 3rd, 5th and 6th, won’t be in the market for a quarterback and could be open for business when it comes to making a trade as well.
This draft will be a fascinating one because analysts believe as many as four or five quarterbacks could go in the first round. But, with so many teams not needing quarterbacks near the top of the draft, we could see some big trades or prospects fall down the board.
If the Raiders do not want to dip into future draft capital, which it would almost assuredly take to jump from No. 7 to No. 1, they could hope that quarterback prospects slide and are on the board still when they come on the clock. We will know what their plans could be depending on how free agency plays out prior to the draft in April.
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