Raiders sign $900,75.9 Million chasing 1 QB Player in Round 1 of NFL Draft…
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis has reportedly given his “blessing” for the team to pursue a trade to move up in the NFL Draft for one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s class. But with a caveat.
This has been an interesting offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders. First, they made the hopes of many fans a reality when they made Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach. They also hired former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco to the same role with the silver-and-black. And they made a big splash in free agency when they signed talented defensive end Christian Wilkins.
Now, the focus for the team and the fanbase is on the 2024 NFL Draft, and there has been speculation about what they will do in Round 1. Rumors suggest the organization would love to find a potential franchise QB in a draft class with as many as four signal callers with future star potential.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, four talented QBs could be off the board before the team is on the clock at pick 13. Getting the player they want — such as Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy — would require making a bold move up in Round 1. That is something that needs approval from the top and it seems Telesco has that.
On Wednesday, ESPN Las Vegas Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez claimed that “Sources say Raiders owner Mark Davis has given his blessing for Telesco and Pierce to make a move, any move” to get the player they want in Round 1. However, Gutierrez also revealed that they are allowed to do it “so long as it makes sense.”
This means the GM and head coach will not be allowed to mortgage the future to get one of the signal callers left after the Chicago Bears select USC star Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick on the evening of April 25. Chances are it would take an offer that can’t be refused for the Patriots or Commanders to trade out of their picks in the top 3. However, a deal with the Giants at six could be possible.
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Legendary QB Not Opposed to NFL Return; Mentions Raiders as Possibility
The Las Vegas Raiders are still waiting for Tom Brady’s ownership stake in the team to be approved but he could still have other plans. Brady retired during the 2023 offseason and it was the first season he wasn’t on an NFL team since 2000.
Brady has already come out of retirement once and said he doesn’t want to do it again. However, a year away from football may have softened his stance. The legendary quarterback was recently given a hypothetical scenario where it’s toward the end of the season and a playoff team loses their starting quarterback. Would he be willing to return just for a playoff push?
“I’m not opposed to it,” Brady said on the April 11 episode of “DeepCut with VicBlends” when asked about a possible NFL return.
Prior to being given the scenario, Brady threw out the Raiders and New England Patriots as possible teams that could interest him if he were to return. He turns 47 in August and would instantly be the oldest player in the NFL if he came back. It sounds like it would have to be a perfect scenario for him to return but nothing is off the table. There have been playoff teams that have had their seasons derailed in the past due to quarterback injuries so Brady could be an interesting player to watch if a big injury happens next season.
Would Las Vegas Raiders Want Tom Brady Playing QB
Last offseason, the Raiders were heavily linked to Tom Brady. He had a longstanding relationship with former head coach Josh McDaniels and the team had a need at quarterback. However, Brady decided to choose retirement over coming to Las Vegas.
A year later, the Raiders still have a need at quarterback and are expected to target the position in the draft. It doesn’t sound like Brady has much interest in spending a full season with a team so Las Vegas wouldn’t sign him to be the quarterback right now.
That said, if the Raiders play well in 2024 but have quarterback issues, then it could be a possibility that he’d be an option but there would be some hurdles to clear.
Can Tom Brady Play & Be an Owner
Tom Brady’s ownership in the Raiders hasn’t been approved yet but there’s no reason to believe it won’t eventually happen. If he were to get approved before the 2024 season, a return to the field would be much more complicated.
According to a 2023 report from TMZ, Brady would technically be allowed to play again if he owned a team but it would require a vote from the owners. He would need 24 or 32 teams to approve him being a player again.
The problem here is that there likely wouldn’t be many teams looking to help the Raiders, especially if they’re a playoff team toward the end of the season. Now, Brady is great for ratings and his triumphant return would likely bring a ton of money back into the NFL. Would NFL owners prefer to put the Raiders at a competitive disadvantage or to make more money? This would be an unprecedented situation so it’s impossible to know.