The belief in NFL circles is that if the Raiders sign a veteran quarterback this offseason, Jimmy Garoppolo would be their No. 1 target. It does make some sense as Garoppolo has a ton of experience and has already played in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
However, should the Raiders avoid Garoppolo altogether this offseason given his injury history? He’s missed a ton of time over the last five seasons with the 49ers and has played 12 or more games in a season just twice.
In a recent article by Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com, he shared some other reasons why teams should be cautious about giving Garoppolo a big deal. Here are some of his thoughts on the veteran quarterback going into free agency:
He’s enjoyed success as an NFL starter under premier offensive play-callers, completing 67.6 percent of his passes and posting an 87:42 TD-to-INT ratio over 74 career games. After joining a new team this offseason, Garoppolo swiftly realizes just how good he had it. He struggles to maintain his consistent play in a new environment, playing with what will almost certainly be a less-talented supporting cast.
Of all the quarterbacks available for the Raiders to sign, Garoppolo would give them the best chance of winning right away. However, he has proven to be unreliable and isn’t good enough to elevate the talent around him.
While signing Garoppolo might be attractive for a team like the Raiders, they are better off avoiding signing him and instead, drafting their next franchise quarterback at No. 7.
