Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell did some good things for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason but the team will likely be in the market looking to upgrade. However, the team played too well down the stretch and fell to the No. 13 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Unless the team decides to trade up, it’s going to be difficult to get one of the top quarterbacks that late. That could lead Las Vegas to look to the free agent market. There aren’t any Tom Brady-level options available but there’s one player the team should keep an eye on.
Baker Mayfield had a bounce-back season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and even led them to a playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He’ll be a hot name in free agency and Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report believes the Raiders are the best fit for him if he leaves.
“With star wideout Davante Adams in place and Antonio Pierce potentially set to become the permanent head coach, the Raiders could soon have a clear foundation in place,” Fowler wrote in a January 18 column.
“If Baker Mayfield somehow gets away from Tampa Bay, Vegas is the clear spot where his game could continue to thrive. The Raiders need some spunk under center, and who better to provide that than Mayfield?”
The Buccaneers will likely be highly motivated to keep Mayfield so there could be competition for his services.
