The Las Vegas Raiders are reassessing the quarterback position this offseason and are about to undergo a seismic change at center. For the first time, Las Vegas will be looking for a new franchise quarterback since 2014 after the organization decided to bench veteran starter Derek Carr during the last two weeks of the season. It is widely thought that this was his last game for the team.
They did get a glimpse at one of the in-house candidates on Sunday against the 49ers in Jarrett Stidham, though that search will spread throughout the NFL this summer. And even in defeat, the 26-year-old may have changed some minds.
Stidham performed admirably in the 37-34 overtime loss to San Francisco, throwing for 365 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. These three passing touchdowns are tied for the most in Raiders history by a quarterback making his first NFL start. He gained 34 more yards on the ground as well.
Stidham wasted no time in attacking what is perhaps the finest defense in the NFL. In the first match of the game, he directed a six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that finished with a 24-yard pass to Darren Waller.
Around halftime, Stidham produced back-to-back drives that led to scores for Davante Adams.
Almost two minutes remained in the regulation, and Las Vegas trailing by a touchdown, Stidham assisted in leading a 75-yard touchdown drive that took just three plays to tie the score at 34. During that possession, the Eagles advanced to midfield thanks to a 21-yard pass to Mack Hollins and a 45-yard pass to Adams, who made a spectacular diving catch.
Stidham’s play contributed to the game going into overtime, but he didn’t have enough magic to complete the comeback. He threw an interception on the first drive of overtime, which San Francisco was able to recover 56 yards for the game-winning field goal, putting the Raiders to 6-10 on the year.
Stidham could have had a better performance in his debut, but he battled with one of the best NFC teams and didn’t appear like a player making his first start.
Stidham joined the NFL after the Patriots selected him out of Baylor in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. Before being transferred to Las Vegas this summer as part of a Day 3 draft selection exchange between the two clubs, he played his first three seasons of professional football with New England. Josh McDaniels, the current head coach of the Raiders and a former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, was kept close by this move, so Stidham has long been familiar with the offense he recently ran, and it was evident in Week 17 against the Patriots.