The Las Vegas Raiders’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, while insignificant for their playoff hopes, could have huge implications for the team’s quarterback future. The victory moved the Raiders from the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft to the No. 6 spot, knocking them out of contention for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a potential game-changing talent. With their record now at 3-12, head coach Antonio Pierce made it clear that winning was his team’s top priority, even if it meant sacrificing a better draft position.
“We don’t do this to lose,” Pierce said at a press conference. “We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team or draft projections. What matters is winning, and that’s all we want to do.” While Pierce’s mindset is admirable and respected within the locker room, NFL front offices often have a different perspective, balancing the immediate desire to win with long-term strategic goals. For the Raiders, this could mean turning to the trade market or free agency to find their next starting quarterback.
One possible target is Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings, but the more likely option could be Kirk Cousins, who previously played for the Vikings. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein, sources identified the Raiders, along with the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and New York Giants, as potential landing spots for Cousins in 2025. The Atlanta Falcons, who signed Cousins to a $180 million contract, benched the four-time Pro Bowler in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. and are expected to trade or release him by March 17, when they will owe him a $10 million roster bonus. The Raiders would need to decide whether to trade for Cousins and absorb his $27.5 million salary for 2025 or wait for the Falcons to cut him and try to sign him for a lower cost, though that option could lead to uncertainty as Cousins would be free to choose his next team.
