With Pete Carroll taking over as head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders have signaled they’re not aiming for a full rebuild. Hiring the oldest head coach in NFL history suggests they’re not planning to sit back for a few seasons.
That said, the Raiders won’t make significant progress without upgrading their quarterback. While there was earlier speculation about the team being aggressive in the draft to find a QB, attention is now shifting toward another option.
Among the available free-agent quarterbacks, Sam Darnold stands out as the top choice. At just 27 years old, he earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Minnesota Vikings this season. Although Darnold never played under Carroll at USC, the coach’s influence remains strong within the program.
Considering this, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has predicted that the Raiders will target Darnold in free agency.
“If Darnold departs for a QB-needy team with cap flexibility, the Las Vegas Raiders would make a ton of sense,” Knox wrote in a January 30 column. “They need a long-term answer behind center, might not find one with the sixth pick in the draft, and have $93 million in projected cap space.”
Darnold a Better Option Than Russell Wilson?
There’s also been speculation that the Raiders might pursue Russell Wilson, who played under Pete Carroll for over a decade in Seattle. However, Wilson is 36 years old and has shown signs of decline in recent seasons.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report laid out why Sam Darnold might be a better fit for the team.
“Darnold would also mesh with the blueprint of new head coach Pete Carroll, assuming he looks to replicate his Seattle Seahawks formula,” Knox wrote. “The 2018 No. 3 pick has the physical tools to be a high-end game manager and an occasional playmaker, one who can complement a strong running game and defense.
“Carroll could look to reunite with Russell Wilson, though there’s no guarantee he won’t re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Wilson’s only real advantage is his cost. Spotrac estimates Darnold’s market value at $40.1 million annually, and he’ll likely command a multi-year deal at that price. That’s a hefty contract for a quarterback who was widely considered a bust until his breakout season this year.
Is Drafting a QB the Best Option?
Drafting a quarterback is often the smartest move for a team, as first-round picks come with the benefit of being relatively inexpensive for at least five years. This provides ample time to strengthen the roster before committing to a big contract for the quarterback.
However, the challenge this year is the perceived weakness of the quarterback class. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders might be the only prospects worth a first-round selection, and there’s no guarantee the Raiders will be in a position to draft either one at No. 6.
With next year’s draft class considered to be stronger, the Raiders might be better off focusing on building the rest of their roster this offseason. Signing a stopgap quarterback like Russell Wilson to a one-year deal could buy them time and put the team in a stronger position to support a rookie quarterback in 2026. While delaying the search for a franchise quarterback isn’t ideal, it could be the most practical approach if Ward or Sanders aren’t available when the Raiders are on the clock.