The Raiders are now in the NFL market for a quarterback after they’re done with HC hiring. And looking at Gardner Minshew and Aidan O-Connell already on the roster, they might be looking for a bridge signal-caller. And that’s where Aaron Rodgers comes in. You see, ever since the Jets made it clear they’re done with Rodgers, his name’s been popping up with the Raiders more than ever.
The reason? Well, there are plenty. For starters, A-Rod’s looking for a final home to call it quits, just like Tom Brady did. Second, the NFL GOAT has a loud voice in the organization considering he holds minority ownership. Last but not least, HC Pete Carroll doesn’t seem to have a connection with O’Connell. That means Rodgers seems to be the right fit. But here’s the kicker—Rodgers might have some competition.
Senior NFL writer Albert Breer believes that Vikings‘ QB Sam Darnold could be the right fit for the Raiders’ offense. “I do think, for what it’s worth, [Sam] Darnold would be a really good fit for Chip Kelly’s offense in Las Vegas,” said Breer. Let’s be real—if the team is looking at the overall performance, then Darnold seems to be the right fit than Rodgers. I mean, after signing a one-year deal with the Vikings, Darnold led the team to 14-3 in the regular season.
“I do think, for what it’s worth, [Sam] Darnold would be a really good fit for Chip Kelly’s offense in Las Vegas”, per @AlbertBreer. pic.twitter.com/RLfqi1MTMW
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) February 17, 2025
Now hold that thought because the aftermath of the regular season is where things get pretty interesting. If the Raiders plan to trade for Darnold, his final two games may come into play where he did not play well when it mattered the most. And that’s what former NFL Player Domonique Foxworth believes: “I think the challenging thing about that is Sam Darnold under pressure is a bad look, and that team [Raiders] does not have the protection necessarily.”
Foxworth further opined, “I think you get the best version of every quarterback honestly when they are protected. Some quarterbacks who have the athleticism or who have the ability to make quick decisions would be better in that situation. I do not think Danrold is perfect for that.” Translation? Foxworth believes that the Raiders must go with a QB who fits their scheme the best.
Sure, Darnold had one of the best season of his career. With 361 competitions out of 545 attempts, the QB recorded 4,319 yards and racked up 35 touchdowns. But it’s his last two games that really let him down. In Week 18, facing the Detroit Lions, Darnold completed just 18 of 41 passes (41.9%) for 166 yards and no touchdowns, contributing to a 31–9 loss.
And then came the wild card round against the Rams and his performance deteriorated further. He was sacked nine times for a total loss of 82 yards and threw an interception, resulting in a brutal 27-9 defeat. One of the reasons why the Raiders may think twice before coming to a decision.
However, it’s still a rumor and after the Super Bowl wrap, there are plenty of those making the headlines.
The Browns and the Steelers are fighting the QB battles
Let’s talk the Browns—because they’re making some spicy headlines in the NFL. The reason? It’s an insane one. Myles Garrett requested a trade, but the Browns are making it clear—they’re not ready to part ways with him. The thing is, after spending almost a decade with the Cleveland team, Garrett wants to win a Super Bowl and believes that Cleveland isn’t the right place for that. The twist?
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pitched that the Browns could actually use his trade request to get rid of a much bigger headache—Deshaun Watson’s insane contract. On top of that, he tossed an idea: what if Garrett and Watson went to another team as a package deal? “‘If you want Myles Garrett, you have to take Deshaun Watson,’” Florio said. “It would amount to an extra $92 million commitment, with the new team getting Garrett and owing Watson the balance of his five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.” Sounds wild, right?
But here’s the kicker—any NFL team looking to sign Garrett would have to take on Watson’s remaining $92 million, all part of his massive $230 million, fully guaranteed contract. Hmm, that’s a hefty price to pay, especially for a guy who isn’t even likely to play the next season. Besides, any team interested in this deal would need to have some serious cap space to take in Watson’s contract.
And Garrett’s extension? Yeah, that’s another concern for the team. He’s under a contract and hoping to get an extension soon. And being a top-tier player, he’s gonna cost a fortune. All in all, it’s going to take a whole lot of money and negotiations for Garrett to consider a trade.
On the other side, the Steelers are struggling to find the right QB. It’s been over a month since the wild card round and they’re still stuck on one question. Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. The issue is simple: many inside the Steelers prefer Fields for the QB1. BUT what about president Art Rooney II? Well, he reportedly preferred Wilson over Fields.
“I heard that maybe Art is more in favor of Russ than maybe the rest,” Steelers’ insider, Mark Kaboly told 93.7 The Fan. “Now who has last call on this? I don’t know. I don’t think Art would stick his nose in and say, ‘We are taking Russ and forget about it,’ but I think that they made it crystal clear, at least Art did, to me, and I do believe him on this one.”
Sure, the owner and the president of the Steel City is sharing his opinion. But at the end of the day, the team’s gonna go with one of them. Either Wilson or Fields.
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