The Raiders are in the quarterback market and they are expected to either sign a high-priced free agent or draft someone with the No. 7 pick. If they decide to do the latter, it might make sense to swing for the fences.
They play in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, two of the top five quarterbacks in the league. The Raiders can’t settle for average, so look for them to search out options with the absolute highest upside.
In a recent mock draft by the Draft Wire, they had the Raiders selecting Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 7 pick. Here is their reasoning behind the selection:
“Derek Carr is obviously on his way out, but even if the Raiders bring in a veteran quarterback, spending this pick on a high-upside passer wouldn’t be a bad idea. Richardson may take some patience, but he’s got many of the same traits that eventually made Josh Allen a superstar.”
There aren’t many quarterbacks in NFL history like Richardson. Standing at 6’5, 235 pounds, Richardson has a cannon for an arm and can also run a 4.40 40-yard dash. He needs a lot of work with his mechanics and accuracy, but he is a rare talent that is worth gambling on.
If the Raiders want a quarterback who has the upside and potential to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes, Richardson is that guy. There is a considerable amount of risk in taking him in the first round, but that might be the best choice for an organization that needs to hit a home run at quarterback.
