Las Vegas Raiders: Options if Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t work
If Jimmy Garoppolo cannot pass a physical with his foot injury, the Las Vegas Raiders have the ability to move on from him at no cost. What should they do? This story has seemed to pick up more steam in recent days.
News broke that there was a special clause, addendum, or whatever you want to call it in Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract with the Las Vegas Raiders that says the team can move on from him at no cost if he cannot pass a physical due to his foot injury.
He recently had surgery on this injury back in March, which is quite something, as some were talking about Garoppolo returning for the Super Bowl had the 49ers taken down the Eagles back in the 2022 NFL season.
Garoppolo has struggled with injuries throughout his career, so this is nothing new. The Raiders jumped on the chance to sign him after scapegoating Derek Carr. Well, if Garoppolo cannot pass the physical and the Raiders do decide to move on, who could they turn to as the QB in 2023?
Las Vegas Raiders: Options if Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t work
Ryan Tannehill
One option that sticks out perhaps more than most is Ryan Tannehill, who is currently in an interesting situation on the Tennessee Titans. The GM who signed him a few years ago is no longer in the picture, and the Titans are clearly in the rebuilding mode. Keeping Tannehill on the roster doesn’t make much sense to me, and neither does keeping Derrick Henry on the roster, but that’s for a different discussion.
Could the Las Vegas Raiders send over a late round pick to bring in a veteran like Tannehill? He isn’t a great QB but has won a bunch of games in recent years, so he may be the “best” option.
Carson Wentz
If the Raiders want to take a chance on someone with a high ceiling, Carson Wentz should be their man. He’s a free agent still and was dumped by the Washington Commanders at the end of the 2022 season.
The Super Bowl champion QB and former MVP candidate enjoyed a nice bounce back year with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 before shockingly being dumped for the much inferior Matt RyanCould Josh McDaniels turn Wentz back into a solidly efficient QB? I think there’s a chance. Wentz might not be the Raiders’ first choice, but he’s better than what they have on the roster.
Trey Lance
The San Francisco 49ers should be willing to trade Trey Lance for the right price. If Garoppolo no longer becomes an option, why not try to bring in a nice project for McDaniels to develop? He worked wonders with a rookie Mac Jones back in 2021, so I think Lance would have a good shot there.
However, some may point to Lance not looking all that great in his limited action in the QB-friendly system in San Francisco. I think that’s a very valid point, but Lance has enticing tools and is still not yet 25 years old.
The Las Vegas Raiders might be in a horrible situation here if they are forced to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo, but there are some opitons.