The Las Vegas Raiders could move for New England Patriots star Mac Jones to solve their quarterback conundrum ahead of the 2023 NFL season.
The Raiders finished 2022 with a dismal 6-11 record after entering the season with high expectations given the offseason moves made to sign superstar receiver Davante Adams. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels - who won six Super Bowls as an assistant coach in New England - is already under mounting pressure to deliver in a competitive AFC West.
Ultimately, McDaniels needs to figure out what direction the Raiders are going to go in regarding the quarterback position. They have been heavily linked with a move for four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, who has an incredible relationship with Adams and appears set to leave the Green Bay Packers after 18 seasons.
However, The Athletic recently reported McDaniels and Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler have agreed to not enter the Rodgers sweepstakes as the franchise cannot afford to give up the high draft picks necessary to complete a move for the Packers veteran. The Raiders will reportedly look at multiple alternatives if they don't land Rodgers this offseason, including making a move to land Jones and reunite him with McDaniels.
McDaniels was the offensive coordinator in New England during Jones’ impressive rookie season where he finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year award and was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the Patriots to the playoffs for the first time since Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the 24-year-old struggled to get to grips with the offence in 2022 as the Pats failed to reach the postseason on the back of his inconsistent play as he was led by poor offensive staff.
According to ESPN, it is reportedly ‘unlikely’ the Patriots would consider moving the 2021 first round pic although the scenario isn’t impossible given the form of 2022 rookie Bailey Zappe when he had the opportunity to start after Jones suffered an ankle injury. Many within the Pats organisation believe Jones can return to form with new OC Bill O’Brien in 2023.
If not Rodgers or Jones, many at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis expect the Raiders to pursue free agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. McDaniels knows the former San Francisco 49ers signal-caller from his time with the Patriots, where Garoppolo served as the backup to Brady.
Las Vegas also have interest in re-signing Jarrett Stidham and pairing him with a first round pick at the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft next month. Following Derek Carr’s benching late in the regular season, Stidham - in his first NFL start - threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime loss to the 49ers.
