Three QBs the Raiders could target in free agency instead of the draft

With three weeks remaining in the NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders currently hold on to the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

If the season were to end today, the Raiders (2-12) would have two choices to make for their selection to be their future franchise quarterback: Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward.

Either of those options will give Raider Nation a sigh of relief with hopes that the team will go with a quarterback and hopefully solve their issues at the position that has plagued them all season with inconsistencies and injuries.

There is a huge game awaiting this weekend that will affect the draft order as the Raiders are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11) who hold on to the fourth pick behind the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

If the Raiders end up winning and fall out of the top two picks and don't make a trade to move up, what's next?

Yardbarker takes a look at three veteran quarterbacks the Raiders could possibly target instead in free agency.

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers

Fields is just too good to be a backup. He's shown plenty of flashes while taking the field for the Steelers in place of Russell Wilson, going 4-2 in six starts and throwing for 1,106 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception. 

The Raiders, however, need to have an offensive coordinator that can match up with Fields' strengths.

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

OK, look, yes Darnold is having an amazing season. But that can be traced to Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, who has a smart mind when it comes to making up creative offensive plays. Darnold has shined under O'Connell, but that doesn't mean it's going to carry over to another team. 

Again, the Raiders have to find an offensive coordinator who has a creative mind to play to Darnold's strengths.

Trey Lance, Dallas Cowboys

Here's a roll of a dice free agent pick up in Lance who hasn't had much of a chance with the Dallas Cowboys. Instead it's Cooper Rush who has replaced Dak Prescott. What gives? 

Maybe a new change of scenery will get Lance going, but then again, that was the thought when the San Francisco 49ers traded him to Dallas in 2023.

Looking at the available free agent quarterbacks, the Raiders cannot afford a win on Sunday or else they'll possibly miss out on their future franchise quarterback.

This Sunday's game against the Jaguars will be interesting for the future of the Raiders.