The Las Vegas Raiders have decided to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant GM John Spytek as their new general manager.
The 44-year-old Spytek will be the Raiders’ fifth general manager since the team moved to Las Vegas back in 2020.
It’s no secret that the Raiders are in need of a true franchise quarterback.
According to reports, Vegas is keeping close tabs on Sam Darnold and could very well be interested in signing him to be their new leader under center.
After experimenting with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder this season, the Raiders face a pivotal decision: pursue a veteran quarterback or invest in a rookie with a high draft pick.
While a lot of Raiders fans are excited about the possibility of drafting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, there is reportedly growing momentum towards signing Darnold once he he hits free agency.
Reports have linked Darnold to the Raiders following the Minnesota Vikings’ early playoff exit.
Darnold, who has shown flashes of brilliance over his seven-year NFL career, seems like a natural fit for a franchise desperate for stability under center.
While he played at a near-MVP level for the majority of this season, it’s impossible to ignore just how ugly his final two performances were.
Having said that, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler still thinks it’s a realistic possibility that the former No. 3 overall pick winds up in Vegas.
“All it takes is one suitor to drive Darnold’s market to the point where it’s cost prohibitive for Minnesota to retain him. And the numbers favor Darnold – at least five teams selecting in the top 10 of the NFL draft need a quarterback during a year when the supply doesn’t meet the demand. Darnold is the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback in free agency,” Fowler explained.
“Las Vegas is slated to have nearly $100 million in 2025 cap space, more than enough to pay a veteran passer. Most execs polled believe Darnold belongs in the Geno Smith/Baker Mayfield class of contracts, somewhere in the range of three years and $100 million.”
Darnold’s experience and production make him an attractive solution, especially to someone who values those traits as much as minority owner Tom Brady does.
Once viewed as a first-round bust, Darnold has undergone a remarkable career revival.
This season, he led the Vikings to 14 wins and was a legitimate MVP candidate prior to Minnesota’s Week 18 debacle at Detroit.
Although it feels like he’s been in the NFL forever, the fact of the matter is Darnold is still just 27 years old. (Will turn 28 in June.)
What are your thoughts on the reports that the Raiders are gearing up to make a run at Darnold in free agency?
The early indication is that he will command a Baker Mayfield-type contract (3-years, $100 million, $50 million guaranteed).
Do you think he’s worth that type of deal? … Or should those final two games scare Vegas away?
At the end of the day, who will be the Raiders’ starting quarterback come opening day 2025???
