Raiders see QB C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, other draft hopefuls at the NFL combine
Saturday’s update
Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends hit the field at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
The Raiders are in the market for a quarterback and got to see many draft hopefuls throw on the field, including Anthony Richardson of Florida, who broke combine records in the vertical and broad jump.
Here are the latest results for some notable quarterbacks:
Bryce Young
Height: 5-10
Weight: 204 pounds
Hand: 9 3/4
Arm: 30 1/2
C.J. Stroud
Height: 6-3
Weight: 214 pounds
Hand: 10
Arm: 32 5/8
Anthony Richardson
Height: 6-4
Weight: 244 pounds
Hand: 10 1/2
Arm: 32 3/4
40 dash: 4.44 seconds
10-yard split: 1.53 seconds
Vertical jump: 40.5”
Broad jump: 10.9”
Will Levis
Height: 6-4
Weight: 229 pounds
Hand: 10 5/8
Arm: 32
Vertical jump: 34”
Broad jump: 10’4”
Hendon Hooker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 217 pounds
Hand: 10 1/2
Arm: 33
Jake Haener
Height: 6-0
Weight: 207 pounds
Hands: 9 3/8
Arms: 29 3/4
Hand: 9 3/8
Arm: 29 3/4
ORIGINAL STORY: Saturday is a big day for the Las Vegas Raiders.
No, not because it’s wedding day for Maxx Crosby, who is tying the knot with his fiancee, Rachel Washburn. Nor is it due to Darren Waller saying “I do” to Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum.
Saturday is a key day for the team because it is when general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels get to watch quarterbacks go to work at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Drills begin at 11 a.m. PST on NFL Network.
A bevy of notable soon-to-be NFL rookie quarterbacks will be on full view in Hendon Hooker of Tennessee, Will Levis of Kentucky, Anthony Richardson of Florida, C.J. Stroud of Ohio State and Bryce Young of Alabama.
The Raiders will select seventh in the 2023 NFL draft, unless they try to move up to snag Stroud or Young — likely the top two QBs on most team’s draft boards.
Chase Garber is the only quarterback under contract with the Raiders for the upcoming season. The Raiders didn’t bring back Derek Carr, whom they benched for the final two games of the NFL season.
Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games, is a free agent, though it’s always possible the Raiders will bring him back.
Barring action on the free-agent or trade market, the Raiders will need to add a quarterback through the draft.
This week, Ziegler and McDaniels talked about finding a quarterback “who will be a Raider for a long time.”
Ziegler and McDaniels will be laser focused Saturday.
Why it’s an important combine
The combine offers an important time for the Raiders staff to observe and pick the right quarterback, one that fits their system.
Could their selection be a day 1 starter? It happened with Carr back in 2014, when he was selected in the second round.
He remained with the Raiders for nine seasons.
Coming off a 6-11 finish, the short- and long-term future of the franchise hinges on what happens at quarterback, whether the Raiders go with a rookie starter or opt for a veteran in Week 1.
Raider Nation seems to hope it’s Young, Stroud, Levis or Richardson, but ultimately it comes down to Ziegler and McDaniels making the right decision.
After some notable misses in recent drafts, fans are counting on the team’s leadership to score a hit at quarterback, leading to future success for the franchise.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published March 3, 2023 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Raiders see QB C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, other draft hopefuls at the NFL combine."
