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Who Will Be the Las Vegas Raiders Starting QB in Week 1? Odds and Betting Predictions

by Mike Allen - 3/11/2024

Las Vegas Raiders next quarterback odds Justin Fields

The 2023 NFL regular season was a roller coaster for the Las Vegas Raiders, to say the least. Even though the quarterback position for this franchise has long been a struggle, their head coaching situation hurt them more than anything this past season.

They have fixed that problem, at least for the short term. The Raiders played hard all season. They really did. Somehow, though, they found another gear once they got rid of Josh McDaniels.

This team had a strong defense, but their run blocking for Josh Jacobs was the worst he has had to deal with in his career with the team.

I mention these things about the coaching situation and the overall running game because I want us to predict the next starting QB for the Las Vegas Raiders. To do that, we have to assess where they are at.

Do they really want to bring in a big name and proven QB, who will command a lot of money but maybe only has a year or two left playing at the highest level? What I am trying to say is do they have a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl in the next couple of years?

I am leaning towards no, and the betting odds we have reflect that.

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Betting Odds for the Week 1 Raiders Starting QB

Aiden O’Connell: +120

This is one I don’t really understand. I suppose the only reason Aiden O’Connell is the betting favorite here is because they don’t have anyone else…yet.

O'Connell started 10 games for the Raiders in 2023. While he may have outplayed his fellow QBs on the team, the guy ranked 27th in both QB rating and yards per pass attempt in the NFL last year.

The guy is a backup at best, and the Raiders know that. The only issue I see here is if they draft a rookie and end up sitting him for at least the first week of the season. That is a concern.

Any Rookie QB: +250

I like this year's draft class for quarterbacks. I ran across a few mock drafts that came out over the weekend, and there is a lot of talk that Las Vegas will trade up and potentially draft a QB like North Carolina Tar Heel Drake Maye.

If that is the case, I believe Maye would be out there on the field in the first week of the season. The most likely scenario for the Raiders is drafting a quarterback.

Justin Fields: +400

There is also a ton of buzz around Justin Fields potentially taking his show to Sin City. It appears the Chicago Bears are parting ways with the Ohio State Buckeye in favor of USC’s Caleb Williams.

They are both incredibly talented. From what we are hearing, Williams has the work ethic over Fields, but the latter has scored off the charts for mental aptitude. Choosing between the two is a good problem to have, if you ask me.

Ryan Tannehill: +900

Sam Howell: +1000

Zach Wilson: +2800

Sam Howell is a possibility, but I see Ryan Tannehill potentially playing for contenders, while poor Zach Wilson has hills to climb to earn the trust of NFL head coaches and front offices.

I am going with Justin Fields in this spot. He would be reuniting with former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who has had nothing but good things to say about him, albeit that may just be professionalism.

Fields proved he is good enough to be a starter in the NFL, and we saw flashes of greatness from him we hadn't seen before. I understand this is a thick draft class, but I can't handle betting a rookie to start, them drafting one, and then sitting him behind clumsy O'Connell for half the season.

Pick: Justin Fields

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