NFL Draft: Quarterback options abound for Raiders

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 2 a.m.

The Raiders have four quarterbacks currently on the roster, including one on a “franchise” contract and another who views himself as a starter in the league, so the position would not necessarily rate as a need in this draft.

But coach Jon Gruden is known for his love of developing young passers, and the team could be in need of a new No. 2 if/when Marcus Mariota moves on after the 2020 season. That means a cheap, longer-term backup to Derek Carr could be on the draft wishlist.

Las Vegas probably won’t invest a first-round pick in a quarterback, but the team has three third-rounders and a fifth-round pick. If Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock think there’s a QB available on Friday or Saturday who has the potential to stick as a quality reserve, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pull the trigger.

When looking for an intriguing option within those parameters, one player who stood out in 2019 was Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon. As a one-year starter in Mike Leach’s air raid offense, Gordon completed 71.6 percent of his passes for 5,579 yards and 48 touchdowns, and some of his skills should translate to the pro level.

Gordon doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but he is confident in reading coverages and throwing into the teeth of the defense. His touch in the intermediate area is really good:

Again, his arm strength is not elite, but he can stretch the defense over the top. Gordon is really accurate on deep throws, consistently leading receivers in stride:

Playing in the air raid, Gordon will need time to transition to a more pro-style offense, especially under a coach like Gruden. Gordon worked exclusively out of the shotgun, and his footwork is … well, it’s unique.

Whereas most quarterbacks are taught to bounce on the balls of their feet while they scan the field, making it easier to step into their throws, Gordon does not subscribe to that method. When he has a clean pocket he prefers to stand absolutely still, flat-footed, while he waits for a receiver to break open:

It’s jarring to watch and no coach would ever teach it that way, but it actually has an interesting historical precedent: Raiders legend Ken Stabler was known for the same idiosyncrasy, and he turned out OK.

And despite the weird footwork, Gordon has good pocket presence, which is a trait that really can’t be taught. He moves around the pocket without panicking, setting up his blocks while keeping his eyes downfield:

Gordon threw 16 interceptions, which is not a small number for a top college QB, but his receivers didn’t help him out much:

Gordon is only 6-foot-2 and doesn’t have a strong arm, so he’s not a premium prospect. But he was productive in college, he’s got moxie, he plays with panache and he’s fun to watch. Las Vegas could do worse with its fifth-round pick on Saturday.

Some other potential mid-round quarterbacks to watch:

Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

Hurts lit it up in his one season at Oklahoma, passing for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. His accuracy was bad (despite an inflated 69.7-percent completion rate), but an NFL team wouldn’t be drafting him for pinpoint ball placement; they’d be drafting him for his ability to make plays.

Hurts measured 6-foot-1 at the combine and ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at 222 pounds, and he plays bigger and faster than that. Whether it’s by design or off-script, Hurts is at his best when he uses his legs.

He can pull the ball down and rip off chunk plays on the ground, and he can throw on the run to create big gains:

Unlike a guy like Gordon, Hurts has some starter upside down the road. Most mocks have Hurts going in the second round, but if he’s around at No. 80 the Raiders might want to pounce.

Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii

If the draft gets into the seventh round and Las Vegas has traded back to accumulate more selections (a decent possibility), McDonald may be worth a late flyer. He actually tested a bit better athletically than Hurts at the combine, running a 4.58 40 with a 36-inch vertical (to Hurts’ 35-inch vert), which makes him an intriguing developmental guy.

McDonald has good ball placement when throwing short, especially when he gets in a rhythm. He has a good feel for leading open receivers and he can “throw open” receivers who appear to be covered:

McDonald’s arm is an issue. He’s a soft tosser who has to put his entire body into deep throws, through he’s pretty accurate down the field:

His arm strength is a limitation when he’s tasked with throwing ropes to the opposite sideline. On those types of out patterns his accuracy wavers:

Whether the Raiders want to use a Friday pick on someone with starter upside, a mid-rounder on a quality backup type or a late-rounder on an intriguing camp arm, there’s a real chance Las Vegas will leave the 2020 draft with a new quarterback.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.