The Geno Smith experiment for the Las Vegas Raiders will likely only last for a season. He hasn’t played well, and it doesn’t make sense to have a struggling, aging quarterback on a young roster.
However, as the Raiders know well, it’s very difficult to find capable starting quarterbacks. This offseason, it’s possible that a couple of former No. 1 picks could be moved.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been talked about a lot, but it’s starting to look like the Jacksonville Jaguars are souring on Trevor Lawrence. He was once one of the most hyped quarterback prospects ever, but he just doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
This season, he is only completing 59.5% of his passes and has thrown just 10 touchdowns. If the Jaguars decided to trade for him, Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz thinks it would make a lot of sense.
“Some complication for the Jags to get rid of him, but it’s an attainable contract,” Fitz said on the “Yahoo Sports Daily” podcast. “So let’s take a look at some opportunities. If we’re just taking hypothetical Trevor Lawrence to the Raiders. That’s a 10, Caroline. That’s a 10 out of 10 out of 10 because would you rather have the third-best quarterback in this year’s draft or 26-year-old Trevor Lawrence? I’d take Trevor Lawrence out of that all day, every day.”
Does Lawrence Fit With The Raiders?
If Lawrence was going to be a free agent, he’d make a lot of sense for Las Vegas. He’s had to go through so much coaching turnover in Jacksonville; perhaps he just needs a fresh start.
The problem with potentially acquiring him is that he hasn’t even started the five-year, $275 million contract the Jaguars previously gave him. That is a massive price tag to pay for a quarterback who has been below average for two straight seasons.
The Raiders couldn’t give up anything significant in a trade to take on that contract. Perhaps a late-round pick swap would be enough to do it. It’d be a very risky move for the team to make, especially since the offensive coaching staff isn’t very good. This most likely wouldn’t be the right move for the Raiders to make.
Lawrence or Murray?
If the Raiders want to trade for another former No. 1 pick, Murray would make more sense. He only has two more years left on his big contract, and he’s a better player. Murray has plenty of his own issues, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been better than Lawrence.
Also, his scrambling and rushing ability make him more dynamic. Murray is another player who could use a fresh start, and Chip Kelly’s skill set as a playcaller could fit well with the quarterback.
Murray would likely cost more in a trade. The Raiders could have to give up at least a second-round pick to get him, and it’s possible that he wouldn’t work out. The team’s best strategy is to finally draft a quarterback in the first round and build around them, but if that’s not an option, Murray makes some sense.
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