This is prime dot-connecting season in the NFL, and there’s plenty of it happening with the Las Vegas Raiders as they transition to a new regime.
A major topic of early offseason speculation has been which quarterbacks might interest the team. Naturally, rumors have surfaced that the Raiders could consider signing veteran quarterback in free agency after he spent last season backing up NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders.
Why Mariota? One key connection: Chip Kelly.
Kelly recruited Mariota to Oregon, where he thrived in 2012 before Kelly left for the NFL. Reports later suggested Kelly even attempted to trade for Mariota during his time as an NFL head coach. Now, with Kelly returning to the league as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator and Mariota available in free agency, the link is clear.
Mariota, who previously served as a backup for the Raiders in 2020-21, has started just 13 games over the past five seasons—all in 2022 with Atlanta. He turns 32 this season, and if the Raiders bring him in, it would likely be as a backup or to compete in training camp.
What do you think about a potential Kelly-Mariota reunion in Las Vegas?
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