Jimmy Garoppolo is officially a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. The 31-year-old replaces Derek Carr, who had been the Raiders starter since 2014 but was benched with two games remaining last season by Josh McDaniels.
Even though Garoppolo has a preexisting connection with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, he made it clear that he wants to win the starting quarterback job and earn his new teammates’ trust.
“I’m coming with the mindset that I need to earn everything — I don’t want to be given any ‘You’re the franchise guy,’ or whatever,” Garoppolo told reporters, via ESPN. “I want to come in and earn it. I think it will come through hard work, working with the teammates, being in the facility. All those little things will play a role.
“But yeah, I don’t want to be given anything; I want to earn it. Just because I’m the quarterback, I’m not the leader because of that. I want to be the leader because guys respect me and believe in me. … I think it will happen naturally. I don’t want to force anything, be inauthentic. I just want to be myself and it’s done me well in the past.”
The only other QB on the roster right now is Chase Garbers. I think it’s safe to say Jimmy G will win the job.
The two sides on Monday had agreed in principle to a three-year, $67.5 million free agent deal that includes $34 million guaranteed.
With a career regular-season record of 40-17, Garoppolo has passed for 14,289 yards and 87 touchdowns with 42 interceptions. He has also gone 4-2 as a starter in the playoffs, which includes a Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders are hoping he can stay healthy as he has played only one full season as a starter.
