The Raiders are in “serious” talks with the Houston Texans about a trade for veteran quarterback Matt Schaub, according to a report by a Houston radio station.
Schaub, 32, is the kind of experienced quarterback the Raiders are looking for while they continue to search for a long-term solution.
Journeyman Trent Edwards, fourth-year player Terrelle Pryor and second-year player Matt McGloin are the only quarterbacks on the Raiders roster.
Coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie said in recent months that they aren’t sure if the Raiders quarterback of the future is on their roster.
McKenzie added that he is inclined to go with a veteran in 2014 as his starter, while a younger quarterback learns under the veteran.
That younger option might be Pryor or McGloin, or it could be a quarterback that the Raiders select in the NFL draft in May. The Raiders hold the No. 5 pick in a draft that features numerous attractive quarterbacks.
Schaub still has three years left on a contract that calls for him to earn $10 million in base salary in 2014, $12.5 million in ’15 and $14.5 million in ‘16. The Raiders are flush with salary cap space and can accommodate such a salary.
Schaub is fresh from his worst season since he became a starter in 2007. He had 10 touchdown passes and 14 passes intercepted last season. That prompted coach Gary Kubiak to bench Schaub.
McKenzie traded for veteran quarterback Matt Flynn last offseason and anointed him the starter. Pryor beat out Flynn in training camp, and the Raiders released Flynn early in the season after Flynn started one game.
In other news, linebacker Rob Jackson and defensive end Alex Carrington are scheduled to visit the Raiders in the coming days as the Raiders continue their wide-ranging search to revamp their defense.
Jackson, 28, played mostly special teams and as a reserve linebacker during his six seasons with the Washington Redskins.
However, he also flashed as a potential starter when he filled in for 14 games in 2012.
The Raiders are set at all three linebacker spots, with 2013 starters Kevin Burnett, Nick Roach and Sio Moore under contract for 2014. The Raiders also added veteran linebacker LaMarr Woodley via free agency Thursday.
Jackson played in only 10 games his first three seasons. He appeared in 44 of 48 games the past three seasons. Fourteen of his 15 starts came in ’12.
Already, the Raiders signed four players that are expected to compete for starting jobs next season.
Defensive end Justin Tuck, defensive lineman Antonio Smith and cornerback Tarell Brown are the others besides Woodley.
Carrington, 26, started nine of the 44 games he played for the Buffalo Bills the past four seasons. He played in only three games last season and recorded 10 tackles.
