The Las Vegas Raiders are in a division that contains two of the best quarterbacks in the league right now and one of the best quarterbacks of all time. The Raiders will likely face quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year for the next decade or so.
It will be up to General Manager Tom Telesco to provide the Raiders with a roster that will be able to compete with two of the most talented quarterbacks in the league.
As the Raiders rebuild their roster, the quarterback position has been a hot topic of discussion. Between the Raiders potentially trading up in the NFL Draft to select a quarterback and being rumored to be running for other veteran quarterbacks around the league, the common thought is the Raiders must sign a top-tier quarterback to compete in the AFC.
While the National Football League is quarterback-driven, the San Francisco 49ers nearly won the Super Bowl with the last player taken in his draft class and one of the lowest-paid starting quarterbacks in the league.
While the team with the better quarterback won the game, the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl by surrounding Brock Purdy with competent play calling on offense and one of the best defenses in the league, which is a viable model of success for the Raiders.
It could be the best option for the Raiders for the next few seasons. However, the Raiders could find themselves out of reach for a quarterback in next year's NFL Draft, and other quality free-agent quarterbacks could decide to go elsewhere. The Raiders cannot depend on their future to land a top quarterback.
They can, however, take matters into their own hands by continuing to build their defense into one of the best in the league. While the Raiders must find a way to keep up offensively with Mahomes and Herbert, trying to beat either quarterback in a shootout isn't a sustainable game plan moving forward.
Having a top quarterback is a luxury, not a necessity. If the Raiders want to compete in the division and in the conference, building a formidable defense could be their best option for successfully coping with their division foes' respective offenses. Sometimes, the best offense is a good defense.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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