Silver And Black Pride
It’s Week 11 and the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. However, just about all of your questions for this week’s mailbag are about the offseason, so let’s dive into the NFL draft, free agency and coaching decisions!
Q: Are you in favor of waiting a year to draft a quarterback, starting Geno Smith for another season with the goal to go after CJ Carr in 2027?
A: I’d like to see the Raiders at least explore this quarterback class, and if there isn’t one that they like or they aren’t within range to get one of the top guys, then I wouldn’t mind waiting a year and going after someone like Carr. My concern with the latter, though, is that so much can change in a year.
Carr could regress and then the organization has to hope that another QB steps up for the plan to be effective. Or if he continues to play well next season, then he’ll likely be the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders would have to tank all of 2026 or give up a significant haul to go get him. In other words, the organization could play itself if it holds out for the Notre Dame product and ends up continuing to have more questions than answers at the most important position on the field.
So, it kind of depends on where Las Vegas is in the draft order and if prospects like Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Oregon’s Dante Moore declare for the draft, assuming Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza declares. I could see Simpson going back to school to get more starting experience before turning pro, and there have already been rumors that Moore will return to the Ducks.
To answer the question, I’m not in favor of waiting for Carr unless there are no viable quarterback options where the Raiders are drafting. All of this being said, I think that if Pete Carroll does return as head coach, Geno is still going to be the starter to at least begin the season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that means the Raiders aren’t pressed to draft a quarterback this April.
A: I’m conflicted. I hate the idea of starting over with another new head coach and coaching staff, but I also don’t think it makes much sense to rebuild with a coach who will be 75 years old next September. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say give Carroll at least one more year and go from there. Maybe he can turn it around and win for a couple of years while grooming his successor to (*coach speak warning*) change the culture and hand the keys over to someone who can keep what he has going.
Also, it wouldn’t surprise me if this is all a moot point and Carroll steps down after the season. I’m not saying that will happen, but his comments in the second half of the...
