Working with the wrong quarterback can often cost a head coach his job, which is exactly what occurred with Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite being connected to a number of top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft, they chose Jimmy Garoppolo, who was benched immediately after McDaniels was fired.
However, things may have gone considerably differently. According to Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated, the Raiders seriously explored trading up in the draft to get a quarterback. The issue is that McDaniels preferred Bryce Young, who went to the Carolina Panthers, while former general manager Dave Ziegler preferred C.J. Stroud, who went to the Houston Texans.
“Dave considered him a generational talent, and Kelly adored him.” Z had done his homework. “He knew what it would take to get to No. 1 or even No. 2,” a source told Carpenter in a November 3o essay.
“He thought the price was low and was willing to do almost anything that didn’t involve Maxx Crosby.” He and Josh agreed that No. 1 was too expensive, but Z wanted to go up to No. 2 and get Stroud. He had the opportunity to close the deal. He also understood Stroud would give McDaniels the opportunity to demonstrate both the fans and the owner that an identity would be formed. Josh was eager to move up for Bryce Young, but he went first, as expected, and Stroud to the Raiders was long dead.”
Throughout their debut seasons, Stroud appears to be the far superior quarterback. He has led the Texans to a 6-5 record with 19 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Meanwhile, Young has guided the Panthers to a 1-10 record, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.
NFL Media Confirms C.J. Stroud Report
If C.J. Stroud had performed at the same level for the Raiders as he has for the Texans, Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler would almost definitely still be employed. In a November 30 X post, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed the disagreement between Ziegler and McDaniels when it came to the top quarterbacks in the draft.
