PFF names Washington ‘realistic landing spot’ for veteran QB in offseason

When the dust settles on the 2021 season, the Washington Football Team could be positioned to draft one of the top QBs in the upcoming class.

While this year’s crop doesn’t feature any surefire superstars, it does flaunt some intriguing talents in Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis and Sam Howell who could become everyday starters.

However, given that Washington seemingly has the requisite building blocks to make a deep playoff run, it’s worth pondering how smart it would be to draft a rookie who might need some grooming before he’s ready to win meaningful games.

Luckily for Washington, the new league year gets underway a little over a month before the draft, so the front office will have plenty of time to pursue some veterans who can actually elevate the talent on the roster.

Per the consensus buzz, the most attractive names that could become available are Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo.

It’s unclear if Ron Rivera and Co. intend to pursue one of those options, but Pro Football Focus seems to think that Carr would be a nice fit, as they named Washington a “realistic landing spot” for the Raiders star.

In this trade, Washington would send two first-round picks (2022 and 2023) as well as a third-rounder in 2023. Seems like a reasonable trade for a three-time Pro Bowler who won’t celebrate his 31st birthday until March.

For any fans reluctant to part ways with two first-rounders, does this roster really need another touted draft pick? The ones already on the team are talented enough to win, but haven’t done much of it because of the quarterback carousel that’s still incapacitating the franchise after all these years.

Additionally, the best GMs make their money beyond the first 32 selections, and Washington, as long as Rivera and Co. play their cards right, could easily get their hands on a Day 1 starter in the second and third rounds.

Getting back to Carr, what’s not to like? He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2016 under then-Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, so you can go ahead and check the familiarity box. Since then, he’s been as consistent as they come at the position, ranking second in big-time throw rate (6.7%), and third in both adjusted completion percentage (78.3%) and yards per attempt (7.9), per PFF.

Imagine what Carr’s big arm could do for Terry McLaurin, who, thanks to the team’s revolving door at QB, has been deprived of showing the world that he’s a top 7-10 player at the receiver position?

We’d actually get to see him operate like a true No. 1 instead of getting five targets per game and having to make insane acrobatic catches and dangerous grabs across the middle just to get on the stat sheet.

Trade for Carr and McLaurin actually has incentive to sign an extension. Right now, he probably doesn’t have much.

Throw in the fact that, when healthy, Washington’s offensive line is one of the best pass-blocking units in the league and it makes even more sense to pull the trigger on this deal…so long as the Raiders make him available.

Las Vegas is more likely to give Carr, who has one year left on his contract, an extension, than trade him.

But given all the turmoil surrounding the franchise and how far away they are competing in the AFC West (they have to play Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year for the next decade), most folks wouldn’t bat an eyelash if general manager Mike Mayock chooses to incite a rebuild.

No need to move heaven and earth for our sign of approval on this one. If the Raiders elect to move off Carr in the offseason, Rivera should get Mayock on the phone the second the report breaks if Rodgers and Wilson are off the table.