The Las Vegas Raiders have a pivotal offseason ahead, as the franchise will hire a new head coach and general manager after firing Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco this week. The Raiders suffered their third consecutive losing season in 2024 and haven't won a playoff game in 22 years.
Las Vegas has a ton of holes to fill this offseason, with quarterback arguably being the most pressing need. Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew served as the starters at the quarterback for most of the year, and neither are long-term answers at the sport's most vital position.
Many thought the Raiders could select a signal caller in the draft, but the team owns the No.6 overall pick, and there are a few quarterback-needy teams ahead of them in the draft order, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans. It's unlikely the class's top two quarterback prospects, Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, will be on the board when Las Vegas is on the clock in Round 1.
With the Raiders likely out of position for a signal caller in April's draft, Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker believes the team should sign Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.
The Raiders’ improbable, late-season string of wins knocked them down to the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which likely means they won’t be able to land Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders unless they trade up. Instead, it would be smart to sign a free-agent quarterback — even in a very limited market — while bolstering one of numerous weak points via the draft.
Darnold’s price tag will probably exceed $150 million based on the year he’s put together in 2024. In his first season with the Vikings, the former No. 3 overall pick ranks 10th among qualifiers with an 80.3 PFF passing grade in addition to eighth in big-time throw rate (5.6%) and fifth in wins above replacement. Assuming the Vikings hand the reins to J.J. McCarthy, the Raiders feel like one of the more likely Darnold landing spots, holding the second-most cap space ($107 million).
Darnold has had a career renaissance with the Vikings in 2024, as the former top-five pick threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, along with 12 interceptions. Darnold showed immense poise and accuracy this season and showcased that he can be an adequate starting quarterback in the NFL.
The Raiders have gone down the veteran free-agent route to address quarterback over the last two years, signing Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023 and Gardner Minshew in 2024. Both signings were complete flops, as Garoppolo was cut by the team after just one season, and Minshew was underwhelming this year and suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in Week 12.
Though the last two free-agent quarterbacks that Las Vegas has signed haven't panned out, Darnold is having a career year in 2024 and has been one of the best signal callers in football this season. The Raiders should try to sign the 2024 Pro Bowler in free agency this offseason and also hire an offensive-minded head coach to pair with Darnold, who has flourished under Kevin O'Connell's tutelage.
Overall, Las Vegas needs better quarterback play if they want to compete for a playoff spot next season. Though Sam Darnold isn't an exciting player, the 27-year-old has been fantastic in 2024 and could lead the Raiders back into the playoffs in 2025.
