When a team gets the No. 1 pick, and their quarterback situation is unresolved, they typically take a quarterback with that pick unless there aren’t any worthwhile options. This year, the Las Vegas Raiders have the top pick, and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza appears to be a prospect worthy of the No. 1 pick.
However, it’s often the case that these top pick quarterbacks have to go to a situation that isn’t ideal. The Tennessee Titans drafted Cam Ward at No. 1 last year, and he was sacked 55 times, which was tied with Geno Smith for most in the NFL.
The Raiders’ offensive line is a mess, they lack wide receiver talent and the defense doesn’t have any depth. Former Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr knows what it’s like to go to a struggling team and have to start as a rookie. He doesn’t think Las Vegas should take a quarterback at No. 1 unless they fix a lot of things.
“I’m all against that,” Carr said on the “Home Grown” podcast when discussing the notion of taking a quarterback when the rest of the roster needs a lot of work. “I don’t know if they’re ready for that. There are so many holes.”
Carr doesn’t see how a rookie is going to come in and have more success than the incumbent quarterbacks with the roster the way it is.
“There’s no young quarterback that you’re just gonna insert, unless they fix other things. … Geno (Smith) can read coverage,” Carr said. “Geno knows where to go with the ball. Aidan (O’Connell) knows coverage. … There’s no young guy that’s gonna know more ball than them now.”
Carr Wants Raiders to Set Up Mendoza for Success
Mendoza played on some less talented teams when he was at California, but Indiana has a very good roster. He has only been sacked 22 times this season.
Carr is a big fan of Mendoza, but doesn’t want to see the early years of his career wasted.
“He has a really good team around him,” Carr said of Mendoza. “Is Mendoza good enough to be the No. 1 pick? Absolutely. Of course he is. I’m trying to protect him.”
If the Raiders are set on taking Mendoza, Carr hopes that they spend a lot of money on the offensive line in free agency.
“Or if they go and take all that money they got there in Vegas now, and they go buy an offensive line, then draft the kid,” Carr said.
QB Position Is Too Important to Pass Up
When a team doesn’t use a high draft pick at quarterback, they get a situation like the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sure, they’re in the playoffs every year, but they always lose in the first round. Mike Tomlin doesn’t step away from that job if he has a young star quarterback.
Carr’s argument does make sense, but how often are the Raiders going to have the No. 1 pick? This is just the third time in franchise history that they’ve gotten it. If a team gets the quarterback right, it’s a lot easier to surround him with the necessary talent. If the Raiders believe that Mendoza is a franchise quarterback, they have to select him at No. 1.
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