5 NFL teams that should tank for Justin Fields
By Gino Terrell
![(Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2c2b1fde049daf10f0556de873b5d72da7f9d7946e55f42aa2ac3645cbb93a8a.jpg)
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders won’t tank by any means. However, if the season begins to go off the rails, they shouldn’t rush to salvage it.
The Raiders have a collection of young talent on both offense and defense. Under center is where this team falls short. Derek Carr had a solid outing in 2019, however, he has yet to play up to his $125 million price tag when given his five-year extension in 2017.
With Fields in the picture, things look a lot brighter in Las Vegas. Inside a division that’s going to be ran by 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes for years to come, Fields gives the Raiders a chance.
With the potential to be an elite playmaker on the next level, Fields would provides Las Vegas with the opportunity to be perennial challengers in the AFC West. The Raiders do have young talent in running back Josh Jacobs and wideout Henry Ruggs III, who ran a 4.27 on his NFL 40-yard dash. If the Raiders decide to tank for Fields in 2020, the decision may be met with a much greater return on investment in 2021.
Fields would enter a season where he has weapons to have a successful rookie campaign if he starts right out of the gate. As an additional incentive, with the NFL salary cap expected to be lowered in 2021 if this upcoming season is played without fans, dumping Carr would help the Raiders clear cap space.
Tanking for Fields seems like a win-win for the Raiders brass.