NFL Trade Rumors: Raiders eyeing star wideout to aid Jimmy Garoppolo's Super Bowl ambition
The Las Vegas Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo during the 2023 NFL offseason to take over as their starting quarterback, replacing Derek Carr. The bold move is a result of an extremely disappointing 2022 NFL season.
Carr failed to lead the Raiders back to the NFL Playoffs, despite a heavily improved roster from the one that made the postseason the year before.
Carr was eventually benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham before being released during the 2023 NFL offseason. The Raiders decided to replace one veteran with another, bringing in Jimmy Garoppolo and his winning history.
He helped the San Francisco 49ers reach the playoffs in each of his healthy seasons, while also making a Super Bowl appearance.
The Raiders believe that adding Jimmy Garoppolo gives them a real chance to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders this year. They have also recently been connected to trade rumors involving DeAndre Hopkins. The superstar wide receiver is currently on the trade block as the Arizona Cardinals listen to offers.
Adding Hopkins to Garoppolo's offense will significantly improve their chances of being among the top contenders this upcoming season. While the Raiders already have a talented group of offensive weapons, Hopkins could potentially transform them into one of the top units in the entire NFL.
Adding DeAndre Hopkins could give the Raiders a dominant trio of wide receivers, joining Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Adams recorded the third-most receiving yards in the entire NFL last season, while Meyers served as the leading receiver for the New England Patriots.
In addition to having a loaded group of weapons in the passing game, the Raiders also brought back running back Josh Jacobs for the 2023 NFL season.
He led the entire NFL with 1,653 rushing yards last year. They are clearly making their push for a Super Bowl ring and believe Jimmy Garoppolo will be the one to lead them there. Adding a superstar like DeAndre Hopkins only further helps their cause.
Is Jimmy Garoppolo an upgrade from Derek Carr for the Raiders?
While Derek Carr has put up superior cumulative passing statistics, Jimmy Garoppolo has a much more proven history of winning with better efficiency numbers.
Carr has exceeded 4,000 passing yards in four of the last five seasons, while Garoppolo has never reached the mark. Garoppolo excels more in efficiency, besting Carr in career completion percentage and passer rating.
The biggest reason the Raiders believe Garoppolo is an upgrade for them is his history of being a winner. His excellent 40-17 career record as a starter is far superior to Carr's mediocre 63-79 record.
Their postseason results are even more lopsided. Carr has appeared in just one playoff game in his career so far, which he lost. Garoppolo holds a solid 4-2 postseason record, including a Super Bowl appearance.