The Las Vegas Raiders can hit reset at quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Since Jon Gruden was hired, the now-Las Vegas Raiders have been undergoing a facelift, something that hiring general manager Mike Mayock only continued. The defense has been overhauled and, more recently, the offense at large was also remade. But quarterback Derek Carr has been a constant of the group.
For how long that will remain the case, though, is in question. Essentially from the moment that Gruden donned the silver and black again, the future of the quarterback has been put into question. And it feels as if the 2020 NFL season will be huge in determining that future.
As mentioned, the Raiders spent a ton of capital in the NFL Draft at wide receiver to give Carr what essentially amounts to no excuses moving forward. They used three top-100 picks on weapons, including a first-rounder on the speedy Henry Ruggs III. So now it’s up to Carr to prove himself but, if he doesnt, then Las Vegas could look to the 2021 NFL Draft to make a change.
Playing in one of the league’s toughest divisions, if Carr isn’t the answer, then the Raiders should be staring down a top-10 pick. But if they take a quarterback that high, what else can they accomplish? That’s what we’re looking at with this early 2021 NFL Mock Draft for the Raiders. (Note: This mock draft was simulated using The Draft Network mock draft machine.)
Can Trey Lance help spark the Las Vegas Raiders offense?
Trey Lance is going to be fascinating to watch this season, both in a vacuum and through the lens of the 2021 NFL Draft. Because after what he accomplished as a redshirt freshman with North Dakota State last season, he’s earned the eyes of the college football and NFL worlds alike.
In his first season as the starter, Lance threw for 28 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,000 yards with 14 more scores. That’s 42 total touchdowns while he threw no interceptions, leading the Bison to another FCS National Championship and winning the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in the process.
Every tool you could want from arm strength to frame to athleticism is there with Lance. He needs to become a more consistent accurate passer, sure, and needs to prove he can handle pro reads. But in terms of what he offers in the tool chest, he has the makings of anything and everything the Raiders could want for their future at quarterback.