The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to win now.
Yes, that sounds ridiculous on the surface, but the organization thinks it isn’t as far away as last season’s record indicates.
How did Tom Brady come to that conclusion? In today’s NFL, the Raiders are one of many teams who feel like they are a quarterback away from the playoffs.
It’s why the Raiders’ brass showed interest in Matthew Stafford. The thought was that if Stafford was added to a defense that is serviceable when healthy, that would help them shop for offensive pieces in free agency. When you combine those things, the Raiders feel like they are a playoff team, even though they play in the toughest division in football.
That hope ended when Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams agreed to restructure his contract. According to several reports, Stafford would’ve made more money if he had signed with the Raiders or the New York Giants.
Where does that leave the Raiders?
There are still available veterans. Will the Raiders kick the tires on Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or Sam Darnold?
The problem with those options is none of them are long-term solutions. Rodgers has gone off the deep end and can kill a locker room. Wilson is no longer a top-flight quarterback. Sam Darnold is probably a one-year wonder.
What about the draft?
Cam Ward won’t be available. Unless there’s an unforeseeable mistake made, Ward will be the first quarterback off the board.
That would leave Shedeur Sanders, who is desperately doing anything he can to avoid the Cleveland Browns. Who can blame him?
I don’t know if the Browns have had a successful quarterback since Bernie Kosar.
Sure, you can say something about “glass houses” regarding quarterbacks and the Raiders, but at least the organization rehabbed Rich Gannon 25 years ago. Plus, if it doesn’t work, you’re in Las Vegas, not Cleveland.
How about this?
With the sixth pick, the Raiders take an edge rusher or offensive lineman and then select Jaxson Dart in the second round.
The organization can put Dart on the “seven-week” plan. A veteran can start the first seven weeks while Dart learns, and then he can be inserted into the starting lineup.
Las Vegas doing it this way will allow them to operate on a mini-two-track plan.
It’s the only way for the Raiders to try and compete now while building for the future.
