4K-Yard QB Suggested as Raiders’ Backup Plan If Shedeur Sanders Isn’t Drafted

It’s no surprise to anyone that the Raiders desperately need to find a new quarterback this offseason. The issue? There are only three worth drafting and the Raiders have the sixth pick.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Titans, Browns, and Giants all also need QBs, and they’ve got the first three picks. As such, unless the Raiders miraculously find themselves able to draft Sanders, whether through a trade or just sheer luck, they’ll have to find another option.

“Some Raiders fans might not be too enthused at the prospect of signing Darnold after his disastrous performance in the Vikings' playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams,” Haringey admits. “That ignores just how poor their favorite team's quarterback play was last season. Darnold would be a significant upgrade over the likes of Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew.”

He’s got a point. O’Connell and Minshew, though likable, have struggled immensely in the saddle over the past couple of years, and a playoff contender QB would be a massive upgrade.

FanSided’s Christopher Kline concurs with this idea.

“It's an appealing option on paper. He's only 27 and he experienced a career renaissance in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. The only thing is, it ended poorly, with Darnold coming unraveled in the season's final weeks. He led the Vikings to nine points in their first-round postseason loss to Los Angeles, a team with four fewer regular season wins. He committed two costly turnovers in that game," Kline wrote.

All this is assuming the Raiders don’t make the costly decision to trade up to snag Sanders with a higher pick, though this would likely be irresponsible since the Raiders desperately need players at a variety of positions.