Aidan

O'Connell

Minshew went 7-6 as the Colts’ starter in 2023 and earned a two-year, $25 million contract from the Raiders in the offseason. It made sense to pencil him in as the starter when he signed the deal, but O’Connell has looked good in the offseason program after making some noise as a rookie. He went 5-5 as a starter and put his best work on tape down the stretch. O’Connell threw for eight touchdowns with no interceptions in the final four weeks of the season. For now, fantasy managers can avoid this quarterback room as we will likely see both passers at some point this season.

This was the presumed next step after the Raiders opted not to select a quarterback in this year’s draft. Playing in a division that includes Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, it goes without saying that the combination of Minshew/O’Connell is far from ideal, but both quarterbacks were solid in 2023, with Minshew nearly leading the Colts to a playoff berth. In 17 games, Minshew threw for 3305-15-9 last season while leading his team to a 7-6 record over 13 starts. O’Connell became the Raiders full-time starter in Week 9 and led the team to a 5-4 record over that span while throwing for 1905-11-5 in those nine games. Neither quarterback is built for shootouts vs. high-powered offenses, but they’re effective game managers who can give their team a chance to win any game within reach. Head coach Antonio Pierce said O’Connell has “earned the right to get the first snap,” but Minshew will almost certainly get some reps as things progress.

The team would like to land LSU’s Jayden Daniels but likely won’t have that opportunity with Washington reportedly set on taking Daniels with the second overall pick. That could leave the Raiders with Penix or Bo Nix as the last viable quarterback options if they want to avoid being shutout at QB. Graziano said “if the quarterback market starts drying up quickly and they feel they need to trade up in order to avoid being shut out, the Chargers at No. 5 and the Titans at No. 7 are two teams that people believe are willing to trade down.” Penix would likely be a big upgrade for Vegas pass catchers, including Davante Adams.

In Gutierrez’s exact words, GM Tom Telesco and HC Antonio Pierce have the signoff “to make a move, any move ... so long as it makes sense.” The buzz around Las Vegas eying the quarterbacks of this year’s draft class has been prevalent all offseason. There were previously reports that the team was hyper-focused on the position at the NFL Combine. Pierce even told reports that he doesn’t want a “Band-Aid” at quarterback. It’s clear the team wants an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for 2024. What remains to be determined is how much they are willing to spend to land a top passing prospect. Currently sitting at No. 13 in the draft, Telesco will have to move up to get one of the top four prospects on most boards. If not, the Raiders could take a cheaper shot on Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix.

Pierce and the Raiders brass are among the handful of teams meeting with LSU QB Jayden Daniels after LSU’s pro day on Wednesday. The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore said Daniels — who weighed in at 210 pounds during his pro day — is the “embodiment of the quarterback Pierce hated to defend but would love to build around in Las Vegas.” Pierce’s desire for a mobile quarterback makes one wonder why the team didn’t pursue Justin Fields. The Raiders, who have the 13th pick in the 2024 draft, would have to trade into the first three or four picks to secure Daniels as their franchise quarterback. Such a move would only happen if the Patriots or Commanders traded out of their current draft slots — an exceedingly unlikely proposition for two QB-starved organizations.

O’Connell and the recently signed Gardner Minshew are the only quarterbacks of note on the Raiders’ roster. While it’s possible they add another quarterback in the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see O’Connell and Minshew both compete for the starting role this summer. O’Connell threw for 2,218-12-7 in 11 games for the Raiders last season and went 5-5 in his 10 starts. The former fourth-round pick ranked 23rd amongst qualified quarterbacks in EPA/play over the final 10 weeks of the season and was 26th in offensive success rate. O’Connell has the looks of a high-end backup, so it’s hard to imagine the Raiders wanting to roll him out for a full 17-game season.

That’s also known as starter money for the journeyman quarterback. While head coach Antonio Pierce might talk up a training camp battle between Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, Minshew is all but certain to start Week 1 for Vegas. Rotoworld’s Denny Carter has more on the signing and what it might mean for Davante Adams.

As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, barring another shakeup to the Raiders’ quarterback room, Minshew will be competing with second-year passer Aidan O’Connell for the starting gig in Las Vegas. Minshew went 7-6 in his 13 games as the Colts’ starter in 2023. He threw for 3,305 yards at a 6.7 per-attempt clip. Minshew tossed 15 touchdowns and ran in another three. Though not the face of any NFL team, Minshew is one of the league’s best backups and is a fine bridge option for a rebuilding Raiders squad. His presence should prevent the passing game from bottoming out, bolstering the fantasy outlooks of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Minshew will be on the radar as QB3 in Superflex leagues, but the potential for him to start less than the full season makes him a weak bet in season-long formats.

The Raiders are widely believed to be one of the more quarterback-hungry teams this offseason. With Jimmy Garoppolo expected to be cut early into the offseason and second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell profiling more as a career backup, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this month that they could make “a potential move up in the draft” to secure a young signal-caller, which will likely be required of the team that currently holds the No. 13 overall pick in April’s draft. If the Raiders don’t move up in the draft, they’ll want to make sure they go as in-depth as possible on quarterbacks outside the consensus top four to ensure they don’t take a massive reach on a quarterback they hope will be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come.

Of course, the other option is signing a quarterback in free agency, something they tried to do last season when they signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal. The Raiders looking to upgrade at the position shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. While rookie Aidan O’Connell was solid in his rookie season, throwing for 2,218-12-7 in 10 starts, the fourth-round pick was never expected to be viewed as the long-term starter. Currently holding the No. 13 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Raiders would have to give up significant draft capital if they hope to move up high in the draft. However, their recent lack of success at the position could force their hand in hopes of landing a true franchise caliber player.