Could the Raiders be interested in intriguing free-agent quarterback?

The Las Vegas Raiders are officially in the market for a new quarterback. They are moving on from Derek Carr, whom they attempted to find a trade partner for but ultimately ended up releasing. 

Carr had a no-trade clause in his contract, which he exercised, as he would not accept a trade to the New Orleans Saints. With his contract set to become fully guaranteed three days after the Super Bowl, the Raiders released him, making him a free agent.

Finding a new quarterback is now the No. 1 goal for the Raiders this offseason. General manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels will be searching for someone that is a culture fit and can handle the complex system that Carr struggled to get a grasp of.

The 2023 NFL Draft could present them with a golden opportunity to land a long-term prospect. Many mock drafts have the Raiders selecting one of the top prospects either at No. 7 or trading up to select one.

Free agency will also present Las Vegas with some options. They can go the veteran route and bring in someone such as Jimmy Garoppolo, who has experience working with McDaniels. Another intriguing name to keep an eye on is Taylor Heinicke.

Heinicke may have some limitations, but his teammates always respond to him when he is starting. The Washington Commanders have played their best with him under center the last few seasons as the players rally around him and play at a high level.

Heinicke has started 24 games with the Commanders, going 12-11-1. His statistics aren’t going to blow anyone away, but they were competitive with him under center. Scott Turner, who was his tie to the Commanders, is now with the Raiders, making them a logical landing spot in free agency. Turner is the passing game coordinator for Las Vegas.

Bringing in Heinicke wouldn’t break the bank for the Raiders compared to some of the other veterans that are available in free agency or on the trade market. He would also provide the team with a good bridge option should they still want to select one of the prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.