Ranking every NFL team’s quarterback situation ahead of summer offseason program

18. Las Vegas Raiders
Projected Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo

The Las Vegas Raiders lost their franchise quarterback this offseason, letting Derek Carr head to New Orleans. They needed someone to replace him. Many thought they would look to the draft to find the quarterback of the future. Instead, they went with a safe choice in Jimmy Garoppolo. The former 49ers and Patriots quarterback signed a three-year deal to play under former coach Josh McDaniels.

Garoppolo is an interesting quarterback. He’s definitely a player who can do above-average things with a great lineup around him. That’s what he did in San Francisco. In Las Vegas, he has one of the best wide receivers in the league in Davante Adams. They signed former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers to go along with Hunter Renfrow. They did trade away Darren Waller in the offseason, but this is still a very good receiving core.

If the Raiders are going to do anything this year, Garoppolo has to stay healthy. He missed most of the second half of last season with a foot injury. That’s expected to fully heal, but Garoppolo isn’t the model of health. He’s played 16 (or 17) games in his career once. That was in 2019.

When healthy, Garoppolo is a wonderfully average quarterback. That’s enough to win in today’s NFL. With Adams by his side, he could do more than that. The offensive line has to hold up, but Garoppolo can be somewhat decent if things go his way.