The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into an uncertain immediate future, as they still lack a quality quarterback and have several other roster deficiencies.
With the No. 13 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, they took Brock Bowers, a tight end from the University of Georgia whom many feel has star potential.
The Raiders need some help on their offensive line, and on Monday, they got some in the form of free-agent signing Andrus Peat, per Ian Rapoport.
Source: Former #Saints starting OL Andrus Peat is signing with the #Raiders. Some added OL help post-draft.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 6, 2024
Peat has played nine seasons in the NFL, all of them coming with the New Orleans Saints, and he has served as a bridge from the Drew Brees era to the current regime behind quarterback Derek Carr.
Carr, of course, played his first nine seasons with the Raiders prior to the 2023 campaign.
The Raiders’ current quarterback is Aidan O’Connell, who took over last season as a rookie under center after veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, and around the same time they made that change, they made another change by firing head coach Josh McDaniels and replacing him with Antonio Pierce.
Other than the QB position, they do have some real talent, including wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and defensive end Maxx Crosby.
They also signed a solid backup quarterback in Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal, and there is always the chance he takes O’Connell’s starting spot.
If O’Connell, who was a fourth-round draft choice a year ago, can develop into an adequate signal-caller, or if Minshew gets the job done, either one will need good protection from Peat and the rest of the offensive line.
But even if that happens, it is hard to imagine Las Vegas making the playoffs this coming season, especially in an improved and deeper AFC.
