LIVE: Raiders Decide on A $8.5 Million QB…

Who will be the quarterback for the Raiders in 2024 is one of the biggest questions in Las Vegas as the NFL

offseason approaches. It won’t be Brian Hoyer or Jimmylo Garoppo, for sure, and although Aidan O’Connell ought to

be given an opportunity to prove himself during training, anything can happen in the form of a big trade or free

agent acquisition.

However, it would make sense to have a reliable, experienced backup quarterback on hand if the Raiders give

O’Connell a fair go and decide to select a quarterback who will also be considered for a starting position with their

first-round pick (or another high draft choice). Pro Football Focus claims that the 31-year-old Commanders backup

quarterback Jacoby Brissett is a viable choice for the Raiders and has a track record of providing a reliable backup

when called upon.

Brissett has only started 48 games in his eight NFL seasons. He has played in two seasons where he started every

game—both in Indianapolis—and one where, due to an injury, he started most of the games in Cleveland in 2022.

Brissett threw for 2,608 yards that year with 11 starts, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. With a decent 88.9

quarterback rating, he performed well.

If the much-discussed deal for Bears standout Justin Fields materializes, the Raiders’ quarterback depth could be

altered. With the addition of former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who did not get along with Fields in

Chicago, that appears less likely.

However, it’s conceivable that O’Connell would assume a backup role and Brissett wouldn’t be needed if the Raiders

signed Fields or had enough salary room to sign Baker Mayfield or Kirk Cousins.

“After an underappreciated strong 2022 campaign over the first 11 games for the Cleveland Browns, Brissett once

again played good football in 2023,” PFF noted. “In Week 15, he stepped up and earned a 92.0 PFF grade with 124

passing yards and two touchdowns on just ten passing attempts.” It was regrettable that Brissett sustained an injury

in Week 16, as it seemed he might have started the remaining games in Washington. “Briessett makes sense even

though the Raiders don’t have a head coach or general manager with Patriots ties anymore.”

Though on the pricey side for a backup, Brissett is probably not too bad of a deal when it comes to quarterbacks.

That might play a role for the Raiders, as it will be expensive to back out of the $72 million contract Jimmy

Garoppolo signed, with $15.5 million in dead money this year and $12.8 million the following year.

While Garoppolo’s salary is still on the books, the team’s most economical option to solve its quarterback dilemma

would be to bring in a youngster in addition to O’Connell and Brissett. Next season, O’Connell will have a cap hit of

only approximately $1 million. The No. 13 overall first-round pick of the Raiders will have a $3.2 million cap hit the

following season.

The Raiders would have to pay roughly $11 million for quarterbacks in addition to Garoppolo’s salary if they were to

sign Brissett to the $6.5 million contract that PFF forecasts and select a quarterback in the first round.