Raiders add franchise quarterback in latest ESPN mock draft

The Las Vegas Raiders are only a few weeks away from being in the quarterback market once again. Aidan O’Connell has proven not to be a long-term answer at quarterback and it feels very likely that the Raiders will pick a new passer in Round 1.

But who might be available to the Raiders when they are on the clock? Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are likely to be gone, but another talented quarterback might catch the Raiders’ eye.

In a recent mock draft by Matt Miller of ESPN, he had the Raiders selecting Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy in Round 1. Here is a snippet of why he believes McCarthy could be a good fit in Las Vegas:

McCarthy is instinctive, efficient and effective as a second-effort creator outside of the pocket. The Michigan scheme does him no favors in terms of statistics, but NFL scouts continue to tell me that McCarthy will be drafted earlier than expected.

With Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) expected to return to college for the 2024 season, McCarthy is the lone first-round-caliber passer remaining on my board. And if things play out this way, this would be the quickest that four QBs have come off the board in the common draft era (since 1967), per ESPN Stats & Information.

McCarthy might have the best combination of size, arm talent, and athleticism after Maye in this class. And he is likely to be a top-10 pick. Keep a close eye on McCarthy during the College Football Playoffs as he could be an option for the Raiders in Round 1.