With nine selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, including the No. 6 overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders, under new head coach Pete Carroll and general manager Tom Telesco, face a crucial opportunity to inject talent into their roster. Given their significant needs at positions like running back, wide receiver, cornerback, and offensive line, a likely strategy will involve targeting high-impact players early in the draft at these key areas. While the quarterback remains a long-term question, the acquisition of Geno Smith might afford them the flexibility to address other pressing needs with their top picks, potentially looking at developmental quarterback options in the later rounds.
Notably, they have a visit scheduled with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is considered a high-potential player with impressive arm talent and is projected to be a late first or early second-round pick. The Raiders also hosted quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Quinn Ewers, and Will Howard as part of a larger group of draft prospects, indicating they are exploring various options for the future of the position, even with Smith now in the fold.
Las Vegas Raiders Met With UCLA QB Ethan Garbers Ahead Of NFL Draft
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Raiders have also met with UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers has met with the Raiders in addition to the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins.
Chip Kelly recruited Garbers to play for UCLA and had a significant and seemingly positive impact on the QB during his time at UCLA. Garbers himself has credited Kelly with playing a big part in his development as a quarterback, highlighting Kelly’s smart offensive mind and the valuable lessons learned about the quarterback position, defenses, and leadership.
The evaluation of Garbers’ collegiate career at UCLA presents a nuanced picture. After minimal playing time in his initial two seasons, he assumed a more prominent role. In his junior year, he started eight games, demonstrating a solid 11-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 67.1% completion rate.
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However, his senior season under a new offensive coordinator saw a slight dip in completion percentage to 64.7%, accompanied by a less favorable 16-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Notably, his sack total significantly increased from 12 to 32 in the same number of games, suggesting potential challenges within the offensive scheme or protection.
Despite these statistical fluctuations, particularly in his senior year, Garbers possesses intriguing physical attributes for a quarterback, standing at 6-foot-3 with some mobility. Reports from the East-West Shrine Bowl indicated a positive showing in pre-game activities, suggesting functional quarterback qualities that warrant further evaluation. While his college production exhibits some inconsistencies, his physical tools and glimpses of potential suggest he could be a developmental prospect at the professional level.