The Las Vegas Raiders already made one bold move at the quarterback position this offseason.
After finishing with an abysmal 4-13 record, the team brought in veteran head coach Pete Carroll and traded for Geno Smith. Smith will now reunite with Carroll in the desert and hope to turn the team's fortunes around.
However, is it possible that the Raiders aren't done making moves at quarterback? Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports recently published a mock draft in which every team was forced to trade their first-round pick.
In Vacchiano's scenario, the Raiders traded up from the sixth pick to the first pick with the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders then proceeded to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
Regarding Ward and the Raiders, Vacchiano offered the following:
There are several teams desperate for a franchise quarterback, and the Titans are one of them. But they decide here that even the top prospect in a weak QB class isn't worth it, compared to what they can do with the king's ransom they're likely to be offered. And it could be huge. To drop five spots, they'd get a future first, and maybe a second-round pick this year. Meanwhile, Tom Brady's Raiders understand that a top quarterback is everything, so they're willing to offer what it takes to jump over the Giants. They have Geno Smith plugged in for at least part of 2025, but they know he's only a short-term solution.
As Vacchiano mentioned, the Raiders probably need to figure out what life after Smith will look like. Smith will turn 35 during the 2025 season and is set to enter free agency next offseason.
It's been reported that the Raiders have engaged with Smith in extension talks, but a deal hasn't been done yet and it's possible the veteran plays elsewhere in 2026.
Ward is considered by many to be the top quarterback prospect in this class. The Miami product threw for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024. Ward led all FBS passers in touchdowns and led the ACC in passer rating.
If the Raiders want to ensure the quarterback position is taken care of, trading up for Ward makes sense. The rookie could sit behind Smith and learn from the passer before eventually taking the job over.
The Raiders have one of the game's best tight ends in Brock Bowers and a reliable veteran receiver in Jakobi Meyers. The team has also made solid additions on defense, adding safety Jeremy Chinn, linebacker Elandon Roberts, and cornerback Eric Stokes, among others.
Now, the team needs to find a reliable passer. Smith is the solid stopgap option while Ward has the franchise passer upside the team desperately needs.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM.