The Las Vegas Raiders dropped to 2-4 after a blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and head coach Antonio Pierce's squad has now lost three out of its last four games and sits at the bottom of the AFC West.
The primary reason for the Raiders' struggles in 2024 has been subpar quarterback play. Gardner Minshew started the first five games and was mostly uninspiring, tossing four touchdowns and five interceptions with an 85.8 passer rating. Aidan O'Connell got the start in Week 6 versus the Steelers and didn't perform much better.
With the Raiders desperately needing a signal-caller for the future, Bleacher Report's Scouting Department wants Las Vegas to sign Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.
The Raiders passed on drafting a quarterback this offseason after being the odd team out during an early run at the position. This year, the Raiders might draft earlier, but this draft class doesn't feature a lot of coveted passers. That could lead Vegas to skip out on taking a first-round signal-caller again.
If they want to go find a starter in free agency, then Sam Darnold is probably the best answer. Working with Kevin O'Connell has revived Darnold's career, and he's showing that he's capable of being a good NFL starter in the right context with the right coaching.
Though Darnold is having a career resurgence with the Vikings and is an MVP candidate, general manager Tom Telesco should avoid paying him top money in free agency.
The 2018 first-round pick has had an excellent season, but head coach Kevin O'Connell's offensive system is masterful and a massive reason Darnold is flourishing in 2024.
The Raiders have gone the veteran quarterback route to address the team's most pressing need for the last two seasons, and the experiment has been an unmitigated disaster. Jimmy Garropolo quickly fizzled out, while Minshew is heading towards being a cap casualty in the offseason.
April's draft is filled with exciting and dynamic quarterback talent, with options like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. It's time for Las Vegas to spend a premium pick on a young signal-caller and rebuild the roster for the future.
