Silver Minings: 2022 mock draft has Raiders taking a quarterback next year

Poor Derek Carr.

He just got past another offseason of quarterback rumors involving his Las Vegas Raiders and what happens? The 2022 Raiders quarterback speculation begins.

CBS Sports offered an early NFL draft first-round mock for the event that will be held in Las Vegas next year on the weekend of April 28-30, 2022. The site pegs the Raiders taking USC quarterback Kedon Slovis with the No. 9 pick. So not only do the analysts at CBS Sports think Carr will be replaced next year, but they also aren’t expecting much from the 2021 Raiders.

Some scouts think Slovis, who just turned 20, could be a candidate to be the top pick in next year’s draft.

I remember seeing a 2021 mock draft this time last year that had the Raiders taking quarterback Jamie Newman in the first round. He ended up signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent over last weekend. So, yes, please take all of this with a huge grain of salt.

A lot can happen in a year.

Overall, though, I get the Raiders’ quarterback talk because it happens every year. Hell, the NFL Network was saying the Raiders could take Alabama quarterback Mac Jones at No. 17 moments before the New England Patriots took him at No. 15.

At some point, Jon Gruden is going to choose Carr’s replacement. Perhaps it will be next year, maybe it will be in five years.

But it’s clear the speculation will never end.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Athletic class: According to the 33rd Team, the Raiders had the third most athletic draft class.
• Preparing for 2022: NFL Draft expert has an early 2022 draft preview and says it’s stacked on defense. That wasn’t the case this year.
• No love for Jenkins: USA Today panned the Chicago Bears’ plan of playing second-round pick Teven Jenkins at left tackle. The Raiders were connected to the Oklahoma State product as a right tackle prior to taking Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood at No. 17.
• Doing it their way: The Ringer has a look at the Raiders’ unique approach to the draft.