The Oakland Raiders quarterback situation will once again be a story to watch in the NFL offseason. Head coach Dennis Allen has already said he does not believe the 2014 starter is on the roster currently, leaving the Raiders to look towards the NFL Draft or free agency options in hopes that this time turns out better than the last few failed attempts. General manager Reggie McKenzie is looking at all options especially a few rookies not named Johnny Manziel.
According to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, the Oakland Raiders appear to be favoring Derek Carr over Manziel in the upcoming draft. He points out that the "Raiders have become known for their unconventional picks, so Manziel might seem like a natural fit for them. Word is, though, that they liked Carr more coming out of the Combine." McKenzie had publically praised the type of quarterback and playmaker that Manziel is known for being, but the team also favors a system quarterback which is more of Carr's style.
The Raiders currently hold the No. 5 pick, so their interest in Carr could be coming because Manziel and Blake Bortles will both likely be off the board. Unless McKenzie intends on trading for the top pick, Oakland might not be able to even try and get their hands on the former Texas A&M star. Carr will certainly be there when the Raiders select, making him the better choice.
Since the NFL Combine, Carr has crashed the three-man quarterback party of Manziel, Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater. He is a darkhorse when it comes to the ranking of rookies, but several teams have been impressed with his arm strength and accuracy. Farmer is right in that the Raiders do go unconventional when it comes to drafting so that quarterback could fit the mold.
Drafting a rookie as a starter would leave the Raiders with a very young roster group. While it is assumed that Terrelle Pryor is likely gone either by trade or release, the Raiders would be left with a draft rookie, Matt McGloin in his second season and Tyler Wilson in his second season off the practice squad. That is not ideal for a team in the midst of rebuilding.
There is a chance that the Raiders opt out of an early quarterback pick and look towards free agent veterans to fill the need. Right now, Michael Vick, Josh McCown and Matt Cassel are the best available. The Chicago Bears would ideally like to sign away McCown. Vick could be the Raiders' best option in the future, but that would leave Oakland empty handed for the long-term outlook.
