ESPN analyst has the Raiders taking the gamble most fans want them to
The Las Vegas Raiders could end up taking a huge gamble that a lot of fans and media want them to take. They need defense in the first round because it's their biggest need. But, there is one player that has intrigued them a ton, and one NFL analyst seems to think so. There are […]
The Las Vegas Raiders could end up taking a huge gamble that a lot of fans and media want them to take. They need defense in the first round because it's their biggest need. But, there is one player that has intrigued them a ton, and one NFL analyst seems to think so.
There are a ton of great defensive players in the draft, especially when it comes to the secondary and edge rusher group. They need both but need secondary more. That player that could keep them from improving their defense just in the first round alone, is Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The Raiders don't really need a quarterback, but they will eventually. Here is what ESPN's Matt Miller had to say about the Las Vegas Raiders taking Richardson at pick seven:
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida The Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo, but he turns 32 this season, hasn't been the picture of health, and signed for the middle-of-the-road money. Richardson is a talent-rich prospect with limited experience (13 starts) in a non-pro-style offense, but his elite size, arm strength, and running ability — he has two rushing touchdowns of more than 80 yards — are simply too tempting to pass on without a true franchise quarterback in place. And Garoppolo's injury history could open the door for Richardson to see meaningful playing time in his rookie season while learning on the job.
-Matt Miller, ESPN
The Raiders just signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason to a lucrative three-year deal. As we all know, he is injury prone, meaning he tends to see a ton of time on the bench, just not for his bad play. When he is healthy, he is a good enough quarterback to take his team to the Super Bowl, as he has done before.
But since he is injury prone, the Raiders may be interested in taking a quarterback, and the potential Richardson has is almost too big to pass up on. Here is why it's a gamble though:
He only started 13 total games at Florida during his entire time in school, so the sample size isn't great. And, we didn't see him have 13 great games in college, but more like some good games here and there. He played great against Utah, but the next week against Kentucky he wasn't that great.
The gamble is that he could very well be a bust, we just don't know yet. Either way, Miller seems to think the Raiders pull the trigger.
