Will the Oakland Raiders Deal Terrelle Pryor?
By Erik Lambert
Dec 29, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone saw the writing on the wall when the Oakland Raiders got their new quarterback, including Terrelle Pryor.
Matt Schaub addition forces Pryor to seek new NFL home
After another 4-12 season it was clear the Raiders were going to change some things up. At the top of the list was finding more stability at the quarterback position. Despite some promising plays made by both Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin their inconsistencies apparently were too much to warrant seconds (or third) chances. So GM Reggie McKenzie made the executive decision to go find a veteran with winning experience. In exchange for a sixth-round pick he acquired 32-year old Matt Schaub. A former two-time Pro Bowler, Schaub is coming off the worst season of his career in which he posted just 10 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. Oakland is clearly gambling that a change of scenery and a fresh start will help get his career back on track and hopefully take the team back to the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. Yet, as so often happens in the NFL, the start of a new chapter means the end of another. What will the Oakland Raiders front office do with Pryor?
Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys could work best for him
Initial reports surfaced that the fourth-year quarterback requested a trade or release from the organization when the Schaub news came in. It’s clear he feels he won’t get a shot at the starting job by staying put so he’ll take his chances elsewhere. The problem at hand is that with the NFL draft so close and several teams already set at quarterback his chances of competing for a starting job in 2014 are slim at best. Looking at it from a logical standpoint his best bet at present would be to go to a team that needs depth at the backup position but has a good coaching staff in place who can further groom and develop his passing ability. Two teams that could and should interest him are the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. Chicago recently lost dependable backup Josh McCown to TampaBay, forcing them to quickly lock up Jordan Palmer to fill the void behind Jay Cutler. Palmer turns 30 this year and has never started a game in his career. He became the backup of McCown after Cutler got hurt in 2013. At present he is the unofficial backup but word is the team is on the lookout for competition for that job. Pryor would do very well taking an opportunity to learn from Bears head coach Marc Trestman, a renowned quarterback specialist.
Then there is the Cowboys. Tony Romo is turning 34 this year and coming off back surgery. His backup Kyle Orton is 31. Dallas could really use an injection of youth at the position and the 24-year old Pryor would certainly qualify. His big body and scrambling talent would appeal to head coach Jason Garrett who developed Romo into a Pro Bowler and was a quarterback himself as a player. Both teams could be really good landing spots for Terrelle Pryor, giving him a chance to settle down and learn his craft before venturing out in free agency next off-season. That is of course if the Oakland Raiders grant his wish to leave.