The Las Vegas Raiders are going to have to make some big decisions this offseason. When it comes to the roster, the biggest decision is what to do with Geno Smith.
He’s been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season, which is a problem considering he’s 35. He’s not a player the Raiders were ever going to build around, but they were expecting much better play.
The offensive line hasn’t done him any favors, but the team needs to go younger at the position. The Raiders are on pace to have a high draft pick next year, so that could put them in position to draft a top quarterback prospect. ESPN’s Matt Miller projects Las Vegas to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 5 pick.
“Geno Smith has not worked out in Las Vegas, and a quarterback reboot is coming,” Miller wrote. “Perhaps the Raiders could be a destination for a veteran like Kyler Murray or Mac Jones should either be available, but Las Vegas is also a prime candidate to draft a quarterback should one be on the board. Simpson has started only 10 games in college, but he’s playing with impeccable poise and timing after developing for three seasons. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder has thrown 22 touchdowns to just two picks this season. Simpson’s inexperience will need to be vetted by scouts, but his instincts and processing are starter level.”
Simpson Is a Very Accurate Passer
Simpson has had a true breakout season. He was at Alabama for three previous years without making a single start. He’s now been given the keys to the offense and has thrived.
Simpson isn’t going to wow scouts with his huge arm, but he knows where to place the ball. He set an Alabama record by completing 17 straight passes in a single half this season. Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson praised the quarterback’s accuracy in his scouting report.
“Simpson is a highly accurate quarterback who fits passes between defenders,” Parson wrote. “He throws with great pacing and placement to take advantage of a sliver of space between his target and the defense. Simpson layers passes with immense touch. He has a feathery touch to place the ball over the top of zone defenders.”
There Are Some Concerns With Simpson
As noted, Simpson isn’t an elite athlete. He doesn’t have a huge arm and isn’t particularly fast. Parson pointed out his limitations.
“Simpson is not a dynamic lateral athlete,” Parson wrote. “Interior pressure highlights his lack of acceleration to win the corner and outrun angles. He is more of a straight-line athlete. Simpson lacks the lateral escapability in the pocket to burn defenses when pressure is sent.”
Simpson’s lack of traits is a bit concerning for a top-five draft pick. In the past, he likely would’ve been a second-round pick. Do the Raiders want to use that valuable of a pick on a low upside prospect? Perhaps. Tom Brady was once considered a low upside prospect and became the greatest quarterback ever.
Brady will likely have a big say on who the next Raiders quarterback will be, so if he likes Simpson, that bodes well for his chances of coming to Las Vegas.
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