The Las Vegas Raiders are in need of a quarterback this offseason. The franchise opted to move on from Derek Carr, releasing him in the days after the Super Bowl to avoid his contract becoming fully guaranteed.
Carr had been the team’s starter since 2014 when he was selected in the second round out of Fresno State. But, after a difficult season trying to learn Josh McDaniels’ system, the Raiders are moving in a different direction.
It is anyone’s guess what kind of player McDaniels will seek out this offseason. Does he want a veteran that will come in and help get the team back into playoff contention right away? Or, does he want to find a younger player that he can develop and have under center for years to come?
If they opt for the veteran route, Jimmy Garoppolo and Aaron Rodgers make the most sense. Garoppolo has experience working with McDaniels from their time together with the New England Patriots. Rodgers is connected mostly because of the presence of Davante Adams, who was traded to the Raiders by the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 offseason.
If the younger quarterback route is the one Las Vegas opts for, an option could be Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers. Right now, it is anyone’s guess what his future holds after injuring his ankle in Week 2 and being knocked out for the remainder of the season.
With the emergence of Brock Purdy, Lance could be an afterthought for the 49ers. However, with Purdy likely missing the 2023 season because of an injury of his own, things are certainly complicated in San Francisco.
Despite showing very little through two professional seasons, there could still be some value to be extracted from Lance. While the 49ers won’t get close to the value they traded away to select him, getting some draft compensation in return and ending that experiment could be best for both parties.
What could it cost the Raiders to acquire Lance? A first-round pick is almost certainly off the table, and even an early Day 2 pick seems like a lot. Las Vegas could offer their third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft along with one of the two fifth-round picks they own; theirs and one courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.
Would that be enough for the 49ers to part with the No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft? If they are comfortable with the rehab of Purdy and can find a veteran bridge option to handle the job until he is healthy, getting any value in exchange for Lance could be viewed as a win for the 49ers.
