The Raiders found a starting QB for 2023, but is he the long-term answer for the franchise?
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini, former 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo and Las Vegas agreed to a three-year, $67.5M deal with $34M guaranteed.
Former 49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo is signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, per @diannaESPN and me. Garoppolo played for Raiders’ HC Josh McDaniels in New England and they now reunite in Las Vegas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023
Comp update: Raiders are giving former 49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo a three-year, $67.5 million deal, including $34 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023
Las Vegas only had one QB under contract (Chase Garbers), so it needed a viable starter. Garoppolo is a solid choice because he has a 40-17 starting record in nine seasons and played under Raiders HC Josh McDaniels while he served as New England OC.
But he's not the long-term answer.
Although Garoppolo led the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV, he benefited from a talented roster that included three-time Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa. During six seasons in San Francisco, Garoppolo never made a Pro Bowl and threw for more than 20 TDs only once.
Additionally, injuries have limited him throughout his career. Garoppolo missed eight games last season with a broken foot, missed 10 in 2020 due to ankle injuries and missed 13 after suffering a torn ACL in 2018.
The 49ers had no qualms about selecting his potential replacements in the 2021 and 2022 NFL drafts in Trey Lance and Brock Purdy.
Las Vegas should consider selecting a QB with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Per ESPN's Jordan Reid, four QBs in the draft have first-round grades: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis.
According to Tankathon, Las Vegas will select Kentucky's Levis in the first round.
"Levis has all of the physical traits necessary at the position, and McDaniels is the ideal guy to nurture his development," wrote Reid.
The combination of Garoppolo and a first-round QB underneath him would solidify the organization's future at the most important position.
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