Las Vegas Raiders played a hand in blockbuster Carolina Panthers trade
The Panthers traded up for the No. 1 pick, and it was in part due to the Las Vegas Raiders wanting to do the same.
Trying to explain why the Carolina Panthers traded up for the No.1 overall pick can begin and end with the Panthers needing a quarterback.
But that isn't the whole story. Apparently, the Las Vegas Raiders pushed the Panthers to trade their No. 1 receiver and draft compensation to the Chicago Bears for the first pick.
The Raiders, also in the market for a quarterback, were sniffing around the league to make a deal happen that could give the franchise an opportunity to select a quarterback of its liking instead of waiting for one to fall to them early. And that sniffing around pressure was enough to push Carolina to make a deal happen sooner rather than later.
Michael Silver of Bally Sports was the first to report the outward posturing from the Las Vegas Raiders.
An additional team that was involved in the hunt for the top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft was the Carolina Panthers coach's former employer the Indianapolis Colts. All teams are desperate for a franchise quarterback. And all three teams played a part in creating the steep price for the first selection.
Las Vegas may still get their guy, however, later in round one. The Raiders have been linked to Anthony Richardson, per the latest reports. And he fits the bill for what Las Vegas is looking to do at the quarterback position moving forward.
But don't expect the Raiders to reach for a young quarterback just because the team needs one. Head coach Josh McDaniels said that wouldn't be the case in recent news. Instead, the Raiders are looking to find a quarterback that fits their ideal mold — not just selecting a quarterback to select one.
Either way, the Raiders will have to do so without getting a chance at the first pick. The pressure they were putting on the Panthers forced Carolina to overpay in more ways than one.
