There are numerous issues that the Oakland Raiders must address this off-season, but the quarterback position has to be at or near the top of the list. Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin have both played well at times this season, but neither has done enough to prove that they are a franchise quarterback as of yet.
It is possible that the Raiders could choose to address a different need with their first-round pick and someone chosen in the second or third rounds is unlikely to step in and start immediately.
If they fail to otherwise address the position, a veteran like Michael Vick could be a possibility while Pryor and McGloin continue to develop. ESPN (Insider) believes it could be a possibility:
Like the Jets, the Raiders don’t really know what they have at quarterback. Will they even be able to determine whether Matt McGloin or Terrelle Pryor really is the long-term solution before the offseason? It seems unlikely. Like the Jags, the Raiders have myriad roster holes to address, so they may not aim for a quarterback in the first round of the draft. If they keep McGloin and Pryor as projects, then having the veteran Vick in the mix could make some sense.
Vick is the type of player who could step in and immediately make plays for a Raiders offense lacking playmakers. Vick’s injury history has been well documented and makes bringing him in an extreme risk, but it could be one worth taking. Pryor, especially could learn from how Vick has evolved his game from a running quarterback to becoming a quarterback who can run.
Vick has been an ideal teammate in Philadelphia and would become a veteran presence even if he becomes a backup again to one of the younger QBs. If the Raiders don’t draft a starter, Vick would be the best player they could bring in as both a starter and a mentor.
