It’s no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders will be looking for a new quarterback this offseason after starting Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder. The Raiders do have the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but hoping for University of Miami’s Cam Ward or University of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders to fall that far is a risky tactic.
So if the Raiders want to avoid another disaster like last year’s 4-13 season, Las Vegas could become more aggressive, targeting a QB upgrade this offseason. They could even knock this item off their checklist when NFL free agency gets underway.
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Las Vegas Raiders ‘likely’ interested in Sam Darnold signing
The Las Vegas Raiders have been linked to signing Russell Wilson thanks to his connection with new head coach Pete Carroll. After all, the two won a Super Bowl together with the Seattle Seahawks. Yet, Wilson is also 36 years old, and his own team may not want him back.
A more suitable solution, both in the short and long term, could be to sign Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s set for free agency after a career-best season.
Recently, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that the Raiders are a “team to watch” in the Darnold free agency sweepstakes.
“One team that I would watch with Sam Darnold moving forward would be the Las Vegas Raiders. At some point in time, they’re likely to have some interest in trying to bring Sam Darnold to Las Vegas. We’ll see if they can make that happen.”
Schefter on Las Vegas Raiders’ interest in Sam Darnold
The Raiders could end up being the best fit for Darnold, who’s said to be intrigued by a situation that allows him to have access to future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady. Plus, the Raiders already have a star tight end in Brock Bowers and could spend the offseason reinforcing the rest of the roster as coach Carroll takes over.
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