If the Raiders do not have the opportunity to trade up in the draft, they may resort to free agency. Despite his five-year, $242 million contract, the Denver Broncos expect to dismiss quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler surveyed the NFL to see who is the greatest fit for Wilson, and one executive believes the nine-time Pro Bowler will end up in Las Vegas.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the executive is referring to a wish list of teams for which Wilson was willing to trade while still with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, which included the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Raiders, and Chicago Bears. He eventually settled in Denver, although his desire to visit Las Vegas may still exist.
Would the Las Vegas Raiders want Russell Wilson?
Head coach Antonio Pierce has coached against Russell Wilson for the past two seasons, and Tom Telesco extensively monitored the quarterback during his time with the Chargers. Those two will be able to determine whether Wilson is a good match in Las Vegas.
Since joining the Broncos, the quarterback has gone 0-3 as the starter against the Raiders, so Pierce is unlikely to be impressed with him. Wilson joining the Raiders does not make much sense. They already have an older veteran on the roster, Jimmy Garoppolo. If the organization wants to try out a veteran quarterback again, they might as well stick with the one they have on the roster.
However, it appears more likely that Aidan O’Connell will be the starter next season. He played well at the conclusion of the season, and while he doesn’t have much potential, he has more than Wilson and Garoppolo at this point in their careers.
Tom Telesco had success with homegrown quarterbacks.
Whether or whether there was some serendipity involved, Tom Telesco’s best move as Chargers general manager was to choose quarterback Justin Herbert in 2020. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and a Pro Bowler in 2021. He has emerged as one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.
When Telesco came over the Chargers in 2013, they already had Philip Rivers, a homegrown quarterback. Telesco has witnessed firsthand the importance of drafting and developing a quarterback for long-term success. The general manager does not have a track record of making major draft moves, but this could be the year to change that.
There are some pretty good quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has already been connected to the team owing to his relationship with Antonio Pierce. Trading up and acquiring the Heisman Trophy winner would undoubtedly be a bold statement by Telesco.
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