Saw this little tidbit in Peter King's article in PFT...

"6. I think if there’s one positive thing in a negative year for the Raiders—and make no mistake about it, it’s been a very negative year—it has nothing to do with the draft choices acquired. It’s more about Jon Gruden and Derek Carr getting on the same page for the long term. Michael Gehlken in the Las Vegas Review Journal had a good analysis of how they’ve made it through this trying year, and I trust Gehlken. Smart guy. Good beat guy. The best line, from Gruden: “I felt maybe I inhibited him. Free yourself, free yourself from me, free your mind, trust your instincts, and go play. Don’t overthink these plays. Don’t overthink these situations. I just didn’t want to paralyze him with too many thoughts.”

Here is the link:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...eter-king/

Gruden is known for preferring vets, especially at QB.

With Carr, he has a vet who is still within the prime of his career.  If he has won over Gruden's trust, then perhaps Oakland won't take a QB at their first pick.

If that's the case, barring a trade up by a team into the top four, based upon current standings, it would seem no team would draft a QB before us.

The Cardinals just drafted Rosen this year.

If what King reports is true, then the Raiders could be set with Carr.

The Jets drafted Sam Darnold at 3 this year.

The 49ers just traded for Garoppolo and signed him to a huge deal this year and they get him back.

If the current draft order remains unchanged (it won't), the Jaguars appear to be sitting pretty at 5 if thy want to use their first round pick on a QB.

What about the teams below them that have a pressing need at QB?

I don't see too many teams in that category.

Atlanta at 6 has Matt Ryan, just two years removed from the Super Bowl.

Detroit has Matt Stafford.  While not exactly young and not exactly great, he is still a good starter.

The Giants and Tampa are sitting at 8 and 9 and could conceivably use a QB, but they'd have to give up a lot to trade up ahead of Jacksonville to get their guy.

Then you have Buffalo and Green Bay at 10 & 11.  Buffalo just drafted Josh Allen and the Packers still have the great Aaron Rodgers.  Neither are likely to deal up ahead of Jacksonville to draft a QB.

Denver just signed Case Keenum.  He's far from a great QB, but may not be enough of a liability to force Elway to trade up from 12 to above 5 to get one of the signal callers.  Besides, I can't recall a team other than Dallas in 1991 and Miami in 2013 to trade up from 11 or later into the top 5.  It doesn't happen very often.

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