Raiders’ Considered And Ranked Aidan O’Connell As QB1 Starter In Year 2.
Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has stressed that the starting quarterback job is Aidan O’Connell’s to lose, but the football world is not going to stop speculating who starts under center for the Silver and Black until the first depth chart of the 2024 season is revealed.
Whether it stays O’Connell or ends up being veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew II, each quarterback has a strong case, but as of now, O’Connell has the upper hand.
O’Connell had to deal with quite a pressured situation when he was handed the keys to the Raiders’ offense midway through his rookie season. That is perhaps the No. 1 advantage going for the young quarterback as he gears up for a position battle — the fact that he was able to unexpectedly step in and remain poised.
Not only did he stay poised, but O’Connell was able to beat all three of the Raiders’ division rivals, including the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
O’Connell also had some impressive outings, including his 248-yard, four-touchdown passing display in Las Vegas’ trouncing of the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. That season-high passing-touchdown total also came in just the first half.
O’Connell is also familiar with the team. Not only is he familiar with Pierce, but he has developed a bond with his teammates, including Davante Adams, one of the top receivers in the league. Pierce said at the NFL Combine that his club wants to make sure Adams is “happy.” Giving him some sort of consistency at quarterback for the first time since he has joined the Silver and Black should help that.
Going another direction may not.
O’Connell has a season under his belt and has seen a lot in just that one season —from coaching and front office changes to great-looking wins to ugly-looking losses. The young quarterback should be well-tested going into his second NFL season.
Drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, O’Connell went on to throw for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns on 213 completions in 11 games (10 starts). He finished his rookie campaign with a 5-5 record as a starter.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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Making a Case For Gardner Minshew II as Raiders’ QB1
Gardner Minshew II brings vital experience as an NFL quarterback to the Las Vegas Raiders
Whether or not you think new Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II should — based on the current roster — be starting quarterback for the Silver and Black next season, he has a track record that should be in his favor.
Minshew is already on his fourth team in six years, but when given the role of a recurring starter, he keeps his teams afloat. Of course, the Raiders don’t want to merely settle for a quarterback that keeps them above water, but Aidan O’Connell did not set the world on fire with his 5-5 record as a starter last year, either. So, you cannot say one is a more proven winner than the other.
Minshew also has the experience. Not only does he have five years of regular-season experience under his belt, but he seen two postseasons as well. One of them included a run to the Super Bowl when Minshew was on the 2022-23 Philadelphia Eagles roster that went to Super Bowl LVII. While he played a total of just nine snaps in that playoff run, the veteran gained some valuable experience as a member of a winning culture.
Losing to the Kansas City Chiefs probably fuels the new Raiders quarterback to take down the back-to-back Super Bowl champions as well.
Minshew also comes off a Pro-Bowl campaign. Yes, he was not originally selected to the Pro Bowl and was admitted due to injuries to other AFC quarterbacks, but a Pro Bowl is a Pro Bowl. There’s no disputing the fact that the accolade will be displayed on his resume at the end of his career.
Whether Minshew should have been a Pro Bowler or not, he turned in his best season yet last year, and that should be promising for fans.
And don’t forget, he did beat a Raiders team that was at its peak last season, and that should say something.
In his five NFL seasons, Minshew has totaled 9,937 passing yards and 59 passing touchdowns on 891 completions in 49 games (37 starts). He has an overall QB record of 15-22-0.
Minshew was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.