The Las Vegas Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback for the upcoming season after the duo of Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew failed to make a significant impact in the competitive AFC West during the 2024 season.
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, the Raiders hold the No. 6 pick, a position that may leave them out of reach for the top quarterback prospects.
While drafting a young quarterback is often seen as the ideal path to rebuilding a team, the Raiders appear to be exploring alternative strategies. According to Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated, the franchise is poised to make a bold move by signing free agent quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $120 million contract. This prediction comes as part of Orr’s offseason forecast for each NFL team.
Darnold, who experienced a career resurgence under Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell last season, could find similar success with the Raiders under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Orr believes the pairing could ignite a strong start for Las Vegas, potentially leading to a 3–0 record early in the season.
“The Raiders will sign Sam Darnold for three years and $120 million and begin the season 3–0 as the fervor over offensive coordinator Chip Kelly gains a massive groundswell,” Orr wrote.
He added a touch of humor, recalling a memorable encounter with former NFL coach Pete Carroll during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, which reinforced his belief in the power of positive energy and bold decisions.
The Raiders have been hesitant to draft a quarterback in the first round since their infamous selection of JaMarcus Russell in 2007.
Russell, widely regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, has seemingly left a lasting impact on the franchise’s approach to acquiring quarterbacks. Instead of gambling on a rookie, the Raiders may opt to invest in a proven veteran like Darnold, leveraging their projected $95 million in cap space to address their most pressing need.
This potential move has sparked debate among fans and analysts, with some questioning whether Darnold is the right fit to lead the Raiders back to contention. However, Orr’s prediction suggests that Las Vegas is ready to take a calculated risk in pursuit of immediate improvement.
As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on the Raiders to see if they follow through with this bold strategy or opt for a different path to secure their quarterback of the future.
