NFL Reports: Josh McDaniels Is The Reason Raiders Don’t Have QB C.J. Stroud Today

Exactly one month ago, Josh McDaniels, the offensive coordinator for the Patriots, was fired from his position as head coach of the Raiders. Since then, reports have surfaced with information that provides insight into why things didn’t work out for McDaniels in Las Vegas.

NFL Reports: Josh McDaniels Is The Reason Raiders Don’t Have QB C.J. Stroud Today

The most recent information was gleaned via a careful investigation of McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler at the time (who was also fired on November 1).

Ziegler would have rather brought in Jacoby Brissett and re-signed backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. He intended to build around a rookie that he would also pick.

“Ziegler wanted to move up in the NFL draft and pick quarterback C.J. Stroud,” wrote Carpenter, though he added that a league source informed him McDaniels “wanted nothing to do with that plan.”

Rather, Stroud was chosen by the Houston Texans and made a quick impression as a rookie in the NFL. In 11 starts, he has passed for 3,266 yards and 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions.

“Josh wanted nothing to do with that plan. Bill [Belichick] loved [Jimmy] Garoppolo, so that meant he would. He was hellbent on Jimmy G, and despite all of the health issues that he had and Dave’s incessant warnings that it was a mistake, Josh got his way,” a league source told Carpenter.

Before the draft, Jimmy Garoppolo was signed by the Raiders to a three-year contract for little over $72 million.

This season, Garoppolo has only thrown seven touchdowns to nine interceptions in six games. Despite suffering from a back issue, he only completed 65.5% of his passes, which is the second-worst percentage of his career. After Week 8, he was finally benched in favor of youngster Aidan O’Connell.

With a 5-7 record this season, the Raiders are now in third place in the AFC West.

McDaniels controlled the team’s personnel decisions by using his position of authority inside the company. The QB choice made during the previous offseason is arguably the most noteworthy.

Although it is commonly known that the Raiders were interested in C.J. Stroud, Raiders Today claims that McDaniels was the one who insisted on acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo instead. Since Garoppolo was a favorite of both the Patriots and Bill Belichick, McDaniels naturally believed he was a wise  choice.

Does Josh McDaniels have a Super Bowl ring?

McDaniels has won five Super Bowls with the Patriots. As an assistant coach for the Patriots, McDaniels won Super Bowls XXXVI (36) and XXXVIII (38) and as the quarterback coach for the Patriots, Super Bowl XXXIX (39) and Super Bowls XLIX (49) and LI (51) as the offensive coordinator.

How many Super Bowls did Brady win with Josh McDaniels?

From 2012 to 2021, the Patriots earned three Super Bowl wins during his second tenure. One of the Patriots’ players that attended each of their six championships under the Brady-Belichick regime was McDaniels.

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