After losing out on landing Matthew Stafford in a trade, the Las Vegas Raiders remain on the warpath to snag a proven veteran quarterback. While the team could sign a starter in free agency, there are reports a trade for a starting quarterback is still on the table.
Raiders Actively Seeking Veteran Quarterback via Free Agency or Trade
In a post on X, NFL Insider Dianna Russini states the Raiders are exploring free agent and trade markets for veteran quarterbacks.
The Las Vegas Raiders are exploring veteran quarterback options on the free agent and trade market, per sources.
That includes the possibility of trading for a current starting QB.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 7, 2025
On the surface, the announcement seems like a regurgitation of the obvious. Ever since the season ended, and especially when Stafford expressed his desire to explore a trade, the Raiders have made it well-known they want a quarterback. With Stafford returning to the Los Angeles Rams on a team-friendly deal, the desire to trade for a starting quarterback still burns bright.
The Raiders recently informed Gardner Minshew he’ll be released, a decision that will become official on March 12, the start of the 2025 league year. Minshew, who had a two-year, $25 million contract, struggled with consistency and injuries during his lone season with the squad. Las Vegas will take on more than $10 million in dead cap with Minshew’s release.
Potential Veteran Quarterback Targets for Raiders
The top veteran quarterbacks in free agency are Russell Wilson and Sam Darnold. The 36-year-old Wilson struggled down the stretch in his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, losing the final four games and putting up back-to-back bad performances to close out the regular season. Though his numbers looked great against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs, the Steelers are leaning towards re-signing Justin Fields and letting Wilson walk.
The Minnesota Vikings declined to apply the franchise tag to 27-year-old Darnold despite a breakout season in which the former first-round pick made the Pro Bowl and received votes for league MVP and Comeback Player of the Year.
Spotrac’s estimated market value for Wilson is a two-year deal worth $77 million, with an average annual salary comparable to the contracts signed by Stafford, Geno Smith, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins.
Darnold’s market value has a slightly higher average annual salary, with an estimated four-year deal worth $160 million that would be the 14th highest contract value at the position. Such a signing would be comparable to those signed by Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo. The former USC Trojan placed 12th in PFSN’s QB Rankings for 2024.
Even after extending Maxx Crosby with a five-year $149 million deal and signing former Cincinnati Bengals guard Alex Cappa, Las Vegas has more than $81 million in cap space, third most in the NFL. They do have 21 players from the 2024 roster that are set to be free agents once free agency begins, including starters Robert Spillane, John Jenkins, and Kolton Miller.
Despite some speculation about Aaron Rodgers joining the Raiders, and Maxx Crosby’s lobbying for Rodgers, NFL insiders like Dianna Russini suggest there is little likelihood of this happening. Rodgers, who is set to become a free agent after his time with the New York Jets, has been more closely linked to the New York Giants, and the Raiders seem more focused on other veteran options.
Starting Quarterbacks Who Are Potential Trade Targets for Raiders
The Seattle Seahawks continue to transition away from the Pete Carroll Era, releasing Tyler Lockett and navigating DK Metcalf’s trade request. Another domino to fall would be Geno Smith, who’s scheduled to be a free agent in 2026 when he’ll be 35.
PFSN boldly predicted Seattle would cut Smith to free up cap space or get dealt to the Raiders. Either move would cost the Seahawks $13.5 million in dead cap, so a trade would at least reap some sort of return.
Barring a disastrous 2025 season, Smith is still projected to have a high value when he hits the market and finished 15th in PFSN’s QB rankings. Reuniting with Carroll is about as smooth a transition as Raiders fans could hope for.
The other option would be former Raider and New Orleans Saints signal-caller Derek Carr, who’s slated to be a free agent in 2027. The Saints have an out for the 34-year-old that would cost them more than $50 million in dead cap. Trading Carr would be slightly less expensive, incurring a dead cap of over $40 million.
According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, the Saints are predicted to part ways with Carr, and NFL insider Jason La Canfora revealed that multiple executives told him Carr is on the trade market. Walder also suggested the New York Jets would be the best fit in a trade, but a return to Las Vegas hasn’t been ruled out, especially with Josh McDaniels gone. Carr finished 11th in PFSN’s QB Rankings for 2024.
Some commenters on Russini’s post suggested Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins and Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray. Cousins’ cap hit for 2025 is $40 million. Trading the 36-year-old QB wouldn’t save them much in the short-term. A swap would cost Atlanta $37.5 million as opposed to the $65 million if he were released. Reports indicate the Falcons are fine with keeping Cousins as a very expensive backup to starter Michael Penix Jr.
Murray signed a five-year $230.5 million contract extension before the 2022 season and has a cap hit of more than $43 million for 2025. If he were traded, it would cost the Cardinals $28.6 million in dead cap.
The Raiders’ quest for a veteran quarterback could come to an end as free agency approaches, with one of two reunions most likely on the horizon.