Key Takeaways:
– The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback room of Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew is deemed one of the weakest in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
– Gary Davenport from Bleacher Report proposed a trade involving the Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, where Justin Fields would go to the Raiders.
– Critics question the proposed trade, arguing that the Raiders would have moved sooner if they felt Fields was an upgrade.
– PFF criticizes the lack of athletic upside in the Raiders’ current quarterback set.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ Quarterback Dilemma
In the wake of an intense offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders have pinned their hopes on Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew vying for the primary quarterback position. However, critics have highlighted their weak presence, with Pro Football Focus tagging the Raiders as hosting the weakest quarterback repertoire in the league.
Proposed Trade to Boost Raiders Roster
In light of this, sports analyst Gary Davenport suggested a trade that could potentially improve the Raiders’ quarterback plight. His proposal, outlined in a column for Bleacher Report on May 21, suggested pulling in 25-year-old Justin Fields from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third and sixth-round pick in 2025.
Yet, this proposed trade has been met with skepticism. Critics are questioning the logic of the Raiders giving up a third-round pick for Fields, who was recently acquired by the Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Potential Upgrade or Missed Opportunity?
If the Raiders were confident about Field’s capabilities as an upgrade, it’s argued they could have secured him for a similar price months ago. “Fields hasn’t yet proven his worth on the field, so what’s driving up his value?” critics wonder.
On top of that, the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, previously worked with Fields in the Chicago Bears, playing a significant role in his development. If Getsy felt Fields presented a significant enhancement over the current Raiders quarterbacks, he would arguably have pushed for his addition months before.
Insufficient Athletic Upside?
In addition to the proposed trade, analysts have scrutinized the athletic potential within the Raiders’ quarterback shelves. A critical concern is that while Minshew and O’Connell have proven to be competent starters, there isn’t much excitement about their athletic potential.
John Kosko from Pro Football Focus shared a similar perspective. In his review, he highlighted that the Raiders’ main struggle is that they operate within a division of two superior quarterbacks. Consequently, their options are relatively dwarfed, which might explain their limited efforts to boost the talent pool for the 2024 season.
Raiders fans remain hopeful in the face of these critics, looking forward to the upcoming season and the potentials it might hold. The specter of potential trades and quarterback upgrades may offer brighter prospects on the horizon and perhaps a chance at upending the current negative perspective on their team.
Meanwhile, the team continues to grapple with critics’ views, including the proposed trade for Fields and questioning of their current quarterbacks’ capacity. Whether they heed these suggestions or stick to their roster as they strive for a successful 2024 season remains to be seen.