The Las Vegas Raiders are in full rebuild mode. Almost every position on the roster needs an upgrade, outside of tight end and running back.
The team is likely to finish the season with a top-five draft pick, but if they want a franchise quarterback, they may need a top-two pick. According to Tankathon, the Raiders currently hold the No. 4 pick, which might be too low if they’re hoping to add a quarterback.
In Dane Brugler’s mock draft for The Athletic, he projects the Raiders to trade with the New York Giants for the No. 2 pick. With that pick, Las Vegas would select Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
“The Raiders’ acquisition of Geno Smith last offseason appeared sound at the time, but it hasn’t worked out. As with the Browns, it makes sense for the Raiders to be aggressive this offseason if they see a chance to land a long-term solution at the most important position on the roster,” Brugler wrote. “In this mock, Las Vegas trades up two spots — and jumps the Saints — to secure its quarterback.
“Moore is still just 20 years old and will have fewer than 20 career starts on his resume after this season. And, with Oregon’s NIL potential, he’ll also have plenty of reasons to stay in school. But could he pass up a potential spot in the top five? I continue to be impressed with the way Moore has responded to everything Oregon has put on his plate this season. His command of the offense and natural accuracy as a passer are strong selling points for the quarterback he will become in the NFL.”
Raiders Still Play Giants
The cost of moving up from No. 4 to No. 2 shouldn’t be too high if they believe Moore is a franchise quarterback. However, it might not be necessary. The Raiders play the Giants in Week 17, and that could end up being a battle for draft position.
Las Vegas has been a worse team this season, but the Giants also aren’t very good. The bigger concern for the Raiders should be the Saints. They are one of the few teams that can argue they are worse than the Raiders this season, and they might not win another game.
They also have a need at quarterback, so if they get the No. 2 pick, the Raiders might need to think about other positions. That said, the Tennessee Titans are favored to get the No. 1 pick, and they won’t take a quarterback. They could be a trade partner for the Raiders if there’s a quarterback they really like.
Is Moore the Right QB for Raiders?
Moore has been arguably the biggest breakout star this college football season. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who projected him to be a first-round pick before the season.
He has led Oregon to the College Football Playoff while throwing 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s got good size at 6-foot-3, and is a strong athlete. He’s young and hasn’t played a ton of games, but the talent is there.
If the Raiders aren’t going to make big moves to improve the offensive line this offseason, landing a quarterback who can move in the pocket might be the best move. At the same time, it could be argued that the team should wait until their offensive line issues are fixed before they draft their quarterback of the future.
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