The Las Vegas Raiders are in desperate need for a quarterback.
New head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek will make the position a priority for 2025. They know that they cannot run it back with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell as their only reliable options under center. With future Hall of Famer Tom Brady providing input as minority owner, the Raiders will be aiming for a serious upgrade.
Fortunately, another option is hitting the free agent market.
On Thursday, the New York Jets confirmed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not return to the team in 2025. The Jets never fulfilled the promise that encapsulated the Rodgers era, and the future Hall of Fame quarterback was unable to establish anything substantial in New York. Now, Rodgers is looking for a new team for his age-41 season.
The Raiders are one of the leading candidates to land Rodgers in free agency.
According to The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer, the Raiders are one of the best landing spots for Rodgers in 2025.
“Davante Adams may go with Rodgers (again), but for now, this is a team without a real starting QB for new coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly — a combination of Aidan O’Connell, Desmond Ridder, and Gardner Minshew doesn’t count,” wrote Iyer.
“Rodgers and the Raiders can work with the influence of minority owner Tom Brady. Las Vegas isn’t guaranteed to get its franchise QB of choice in the first round of the draft, and Rodgers and Kelly would be an interesting, fascinating schematic experiment.”
Rodgers would have to understand that the Raiders are still looking for a long-term solution at quarterback if he signs in Las Vegas. That said, Rodgers provides legitimacy to the organization, in the same way Carroll did when he was hired as head coach. If the Raiders are willing to handle the potential distractions, Rodgers on a short-term deal similar to Russell Wilson’s with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season is a low-risk, moderate-to-high-reward signing waiting to happen.
Rodgers is not the same quarterback he once was, but he is a possible short-term solution for the Raiders as they continue to build for the future.
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