NFL Reporter Predicts Major Change In Raiders’ Future

The Las Vegas Raiders made a major change offensively this offseason, opting to move on from quarterback Derek Carr. He was released after not waiving his no trade-clause and eventually signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints.

In need of a new starting quarterback, the Raiders dipped into free agency and came away with Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo spent the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers but reunites with his former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, Josh McDaniels.

Garoppolo and the Raiders agreed to a three-year, $72.75 million deal, but it didn’t become official until late July. He failed his physical upon agreeing to the contract and had to pass one at training camp to guarantee his money.

That was one crisis that the Raiders were able to avert as they prepare for the 2023 season. Garoppolo’s life would be much easier if they could figure out a way to get running back Josh Jacobs into camp, but for now, he remains away from the team.

Right now, this is Garoppolo’s offense as he is locked in as the starter for 2023. Based on his contract, he could very well be the starter for a few years. But, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano doesn’t foresee that happening.

Graziano doesn’t believe Garoppolo will be with the Raiders for the duration of his contract. In fact, he believes that Garoppolo’s stay in Sin City will be one and done.

“The Raiders struggle badly in 2023 with a roster that appears to be much worse than the one McDaniels took over just last offseason,” Graziano wrote in the August 9 column. “Garoppolo misses a chunk of games because of injury. Davante Adams, who went to Vegas to play with his college buddy Carr, decides he wants to be traded. The Raiders, as the 49ers once did, decide they can’t count on Garoppolo to stay healthy and move on. In this scenario, they have a very high pick in the draft — maybe high enough to get [Caleb] Williams or [Drake] Maye.”

Garoppolo may not be the only person on the move from Las Vegas after the 2023 season. If the Raiders struggle as much as Graziano believes that they will, there will be people calling for McDaniels to be fired as well.

If the opportunity presents itself to select one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Raiders will have to think long and hard about pulling the trigger. Turning 32 in November, Garoppolo isn’t a very long-term option for the team anyway; if a rebuild were to start, moving on from him would make sense.