Luke Getsy, the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, will call plays in Las Vegas. But who will he call plays for during the 2024 season? It remains to be seen.
While the Raiders could try to sign a free agent quarterback like Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield, the consensus around the league is that they will draft someone. But who might be available in Round One?
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In a recent mock draft, Matt Miller of ESPN had the Raiders picking Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 13. Here’s his explanation for selecting Las Vegas:
Tom Telesco is the Raiders’ new general manager, and the team must prioritize finding a long-term quarterback during the 2024 offseason. McCarthy, who began his career at Michigan two years ago, has just turned 21 and possesses the necessary abilities to be that player.
He’s mobile and tough as nails, and scouts laud his arm power and ability to make difficult throws in big moments. He has thrown 44 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in college, and he is by far the least experienced of the best quarterbacks in this class. However, his potential and ceiling make him worthy of a top-15 pick.
McCarthy is largely regarded as the fourth-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, trailing Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), and Jayden Daniels (LSU). McCarthy, however, won the most games and was named the National Champion this year.
McCarthy is still a raw player, but he possesses all of the characteristics required to be a high-end starter in the NFL. Is this the approach Telesco will take with his first pick for the Raiders? Time will tell, but it certainly makes sense on paper.
