With the Raiders benching Jimmy Garoppolo, it appears they will be back in the quarterback market again. There is an outside chance that Aidan O’Connell will take the job over the final two months, but the better bet is that the Raiders will be drafting a quarterback in 2024.
But with the Raiders unlikely to be picking inside the top three, it might be hard for them to grab Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. But there is another option that could be intriguing.
In a recent mock draft by Sports Illustrated, the Raiders selected Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy at pick No. 14. Here is Luke Easterling’s reasoning behind the selection:
The Raiders need just about everything, but nothing matters if you don’t have a quarterback. Even if Jimmy Garoppolo was still healthy, the Raiders would still need an upgrade under center, and McCarthy brings a well-rounded skill set with accuracy, efficiency, and an underrated ability to make plays as a runner.
McCarthy has been a very common selection in early mock drafts for the Raiders. He is likely to be the No. 3 or No. 4 quarterback off the board and does have a ton of physical gifts.
The biggest game of his career will be on Saturday when Michigan plays undefeated Ohio State. That game could go a long way to improving his draft stock for next April. Keep an eye on McCarthy this weekend as a potential option for the Raiders in 2024.
