Jordan Love, starting quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders, just sounds too good to be true. Here’s why his transaction would be a match made in football heaven.
Imagine the silver and black on Jordan Love. If this becomes a reality, Raider nation would be set with its quarterback for the 2020s.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the 12th and 19th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. They can stand pat with those picks or use them as capital to select Love, who was a record-holding quarterback for the Utah State Aggies. His mobility, leadership and pro throws have catapulted Love into the conversation as a top-three quarterback in this 2020 draft class.
If Love is brought into the right situation, he has the potential to be a special player in the NFL. With the Raiders, he could flourish.
Now that the Raiders are in Las Vegas, they need a star. Behind center, the Raiders already have Derek Carr. During the offseason, they also signed former 2015 second overall pick Marcus Mariota. But neither quarterback has established themself as a consistent signal caller in the NFL. With that being the case, the Raiders would not be risking much going after Love.
A Gruden Grinder
The person that needs this pick the most is head coach Jon Gruden. Some spectators still have not forgiven Gruden for trading Khalil Mack in his prime to the Chicago Bears. The 19th pick the Raiders hold is one of the draft picks acquired in the Mack trade. If that picks turns into one that drafts Love, this could possibly make Gruden’s deal better in retrospect.
As a head coach given general manager duties dating back to his time with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden has not established himself as a good decision-maker. He did win a Super Bowl his first season coaching the Buccaneers, but one can make the argument that he won with the team Tony Dungy built. In Las Vegas, Gruden can change that stigma.
Gruden and Love have the potential to become an iconic head coach and quarterback duo. Gruden is entering his third season of a 10-year, $100 million deal — the largest contract for a head coach in NFL history. With the stakes this high, and now relocated in Las Vegas, the Raiders need to make a splash. If Gruden proves he came groom a high-caliber quarterback, this exponentially changes the narrative of his legacy.
Love may equal perennial winning
Consistency at the quarterback position is something the Raiders have been missing for quite some time. In fact, it’s been missing since the day Rich Gannon decided to retire. With Love, they may have a quarterback they could groom to be that guy.
In the AFC West, they will need offensive firepower to keep up. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are going to be favorites to win the AFC West for many years to come. The Raiders will need to find their franchise quarterback for a shot to win the division this decade.
Raiders’ current roster
The Raiders’ roster is perfect for Love, and vice versa. With a young roster, it is a one Love can grow with. Tight end Darren Walker was the team’s leading receiver in 2019. Walker racked up 90 receptions and 1,145 receiving yards, and he would definitely be a security blanket for the young quarterback.
Running back Josh Jacobs proved to be a solid half-back, rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie last season. Jacobs also averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
This young foundation could use Love. There also won’t be much pressure for him to start out of the gate if he needs time to develop and learn the system. If Gruden develops Love, this team could be competitive and change the culture in the 2020s. With their new fanbase, Love would be the new face this organization desperately needs going forward.