Jimmy Garoppolo’s days in Las Vegas are likely numbered after the Raiders benched him in favour of rookie Aidan O’Connell.
“How about very?” According to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, Las Vegas will most likely move on. “Benching Garoppolo as a part of the reset that saw coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi all get fired does not bode well for the QB’s future in Las Vegas.”
Garoppolo, who signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract this offseason, threw nine interceptions, seven touchdowns, and a 35 QBR in six starts. It’s clear that the 32-year-old isn’t the solution.
According to Gutierrez, interim head coach Antonio Pierce recently stated that we may not have seen the last of Jimmy G. this season. O’Connell, a fourth-round choice out of Purdue, could struggle, so it makes sense to go back to Garoppolo rather than Brian Hoyer, who has lost 12 straight games as a starter. This has no bearing on Garoppolo’s future in Las Vegas.
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The Raiders could try to trade Garoppolo this offseason, but he’s unlikely to find takers. Releasing him is also an expensive decision. According to Over the Cap, a pre-June 1 designation costs $28.3M in dead money, while a post-June 1 designation costs $15.5M.
Despite the significant financial loss, the 2024 draught appears to be an excellent opportunity to perhaps select a long-term answer at the most crucial position. ESPN draught analyst Jordan Reid graded four quarterbacks in the first round, including Caleb Williams of Southern California, Drake Maye of North Carolina, and J.J. McCarthy of Michigan.
According to ESPN’s football power index, the Raiders (4-5) will have the sixth overall pick, putting them in position to select a good, young quarterback to build around.
