The Raiders Need a Quarterback - and the Draft Might Be Their Best Shot
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Las Vegas Raiders don’t have their quarterback of the future on the roster right now. They’ve got bodies in the room - Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, Aidan O’Connell, and rookie Cam Miller - but none of them look like the long-term answer. It’s a collection of stopgaps, backups, and developmental projects, and that’s just not going to cut it in a league where everything starts and ends with the guy under center.
Geno Smith was brought in this offseason, but let’s be real - this was never about building around him. He’s a bridge quarterback, plain and simple.
According to Vincent Bonsignore, a well-connected Raiders insider, the team doesn’t view either Pickett or O’Connell as long-term starters. And Geno?
His $58.5 million guaranteed at signing might sound like a big number, but in NFL quarterback terms, that’s not a commitment - that’s a placeholder.
“Rule of thumb: always look at the money,” Bonsignore said. “It tells you everything. He is/was/always will be a short-term bridge.”
That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement, but it’s an honest one - and it’s what the Raiders need to hear. Because for all the talk about building a winning culture, nothing matters until you find your quarterback.
O’Connell has shown flashes. He’s steady, smart, and doesn’t make a ton of mistakes.
But in today’s NFL, you need more than just “solid.” You need someone who can elevate the offense, take over games, and give you a chance every Sunday.
That’s not where O’Connell is right now. As for Pickett, he hasn’t even had a real shot in Vegas, and there’s little indication he’s viewed as anything more than depth.
Cam Miller? He’s got tools, but he’s raw.
A developmental guy who might be a long-term backup at best. That’s a nice luxury to have, but not the foundation you build a franchise on.
So what’s the move?
Bonsignore says keep your eyes on the draft - and that tracks. Raider Nation has seen enough of the veteran Band-Aids since Derek Carr’s departure.
It’s time to swing big. And the draft is where you do that.
Of course, drafting a quarterback is only part of the equation. You’ve got to support him.
Bonsignore pointed to what the Bears and Patriots did last year - both teams threw their rookie QBs behind shaky offensive lines, and the results were predictably rough. But then they invested heavily in protection, and now both young quarterbacks - and their teams - are trending up.
The lesson? Get your quarterback, then build around him.
Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate.
Just get him in the building.
Bonsignore put it bluntly: “The Bears and Patriots drafted Caleb and Drake last year, with terrible offensive lines. And it was rough for them as rookies.
Both teams invested heavily on the offensive line this year, and the two QBs and teams are doing great. GET YOUR QUARTERBACK IN THE BUILDING.”
There’s also a ripple effect here. A young, promising quarterback doesn’t just energize the fan base - it makes the job more attractive for potential head coaches. Bonsignore noted that Ben Johnson, one of the hottest coaching candidates last cycle, passed on the Raiders in part because there wasn’t a young quarterback to build around.
“They wanted Ben Johnson. But he decided to roll with the team with the young QB,” Bonsignore said.
“All the more reason to draft a QB. It will attract good coaches.”
That’s a critical point. A franchise quarterback is a magnet for coaching talent.
And coaching talent is how you build something sustainable. The Raiders have been spinning their wheels for years, stuck in a cycle of short-term fixes and missed opportunities.
It’s time to break the pattern.
And here’s the kicker: the Raiders have used just one first-round pick on a quarterback in the last 34 drafts. One.
That’s not just conservative - that’s historically risk-averse. At some point, you’ve got to take the swing.
As Bonsignore said: “The Raiders have used one 1st round pick out of the last 34 drafts on a QB. At some point, you have to take that swing.”
The message is clear. The Raiders need a quarterback.
Not a stopgap. Not a backup.
A real, franchise-altering presence. And the draft might be their best - and only - shot at finding him.
The time to act is now. The Raiders can’t afford to keep kicking this can down the road. The future of the franchise depends on it.