The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to add a new quarterback to the team this offseason, but it’s not clear if it will be a rookie, a veteran, or both. The team will look into veteran options first during free agency before the draft, including a big name who was recently released.
The Denver Broncos recently parted ways with quarterback Russell Wilson despite his $85 million dead cap hit. It’s expected that he will now accept a league minimum contract, which would be worth $1.21 million, per Spotrac.
According to ESPN, the Raiders are among the teams that might meet with Wilson in the next few days.
“Wilson is expected to meet with other teams, including possibly the Las Vegas Raiders, sources said,” ESPN wrote in a March 8 report.
Since Wilson was released by the Broncos before free agency, he’s now free to sign with any team whenever he wants. The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers are also interested in the quarterback, according to ESPN. Although Wilson isn’t the same quarterback as he used to be, $1.21 million is a small price to pay and easy to cut if he’s not performing well.
Steelers and Giants either have met or are meeting with Russell Wilson. There are expected to be more, including possibly the Raiders, per sources. https://t.co/i9TWkVmFHp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2024
Why Las Vegas Raiders Could Be Attractive to Russell Wilson
The Steelers and Giants are intriguing potential landing spots for Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh is consistently in the playoff mix but has been held back by subpar quarterback play lately. They just need Wilson to be decent, and they could reach the playoffs.
The Giants don’t make much sense. They paid Daniel Jones a lot of money and were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season. Wilson won’t be able to do much with that wide receiver corps and offensive line.
Out of the three teams that have been linked to him, the Raiders seem to be the best fit for Wilson. The team doesn’t have a set starter and Jimmy Garoppolo should be released very soon. While Las Vegas might still draft a quarterback, Wilson has the easiest path to a starting role with the Raiders. He would also have the opportunity to throw to Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Playing against the Broncos twice a year may also appeal to him if he’s feeling salty about being released.
Why Las Vegas Raiders May Not Want Russell Wilson
From Russell Wilson’s point of view, the Raiders make a lot of sense. However, it may make less sense from Las Vegas’ perspective. The Raiders were 3-0 against Wilson in the last two seasons, and it’s fair to question if he’s that much of an improvement over Aidan O’Connell.
Wilson did throw 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions last season, but numbers can be misleading. He had a 7-8 record as a starter, and he had Sean Payton, one of the best playcallers in the NFL, calling plays for him. Payton would rather lose $85 million in salary cap space just to get him out of the building, which says a lot.
Yes, Wilson would be inexpensive, so the risk is low, but Las Vegas might be better off focusing on bringing in a rookie and a lesser-known veteran like Sam Darnold or Jacoby Brissett to compete.
