A Las Vegas Raiders insider predicted in what direction the team would go at quarterback this season. The Raiders will have one of the more interesting quarterback battles in training camp this summer between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew.
The Las Vegas Raiders need the passing game to work
The Raiders need O’Connell or Minshew to have a good season as the full-time head coach in Antonio Pierce’s first season. The passing game is the Raiders’ best chance of scoring, as the backfield is ranked as one of the league’s worst before the season because they lost Josh Jacobs in free agency.
Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell struggled at OTAs
As previously discussed on GH, Tashan Reed with The Athletic reported O’Connell and Minshew had problems during OTAs this spring. Reed called the Raiders’ quarterback situation “concerning” before training camp:
“Both quarterbacks struggled to push the ball downfield, had too many off-target throws and frequently put the ball in harm’s way. The Raiders will need better than that to avoid the offense being a liability yet again. The good news is there’s still plenty of time for O’Connell and Minshew to get better in training camp before the season arrives.”
The Raiders have plenty of weapons for Minshew and O’Connell to target. Unfortunately, most of the problems appear to be on the quarterbacks and maybe offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. They’ll have to make a giant leap in the preseason if the Raiders have any chance of surviving a brutal AFC West.
O’Connell predicted to get the QB1 job based on age
Reed gave an update on where the Raiders are before training camp starts in July. Reed thinks the Raiders will start O’Connell because he has the highest ceiling. Reed reiterated that the Raiders quarterbacks struggled this spring:
It was a rough showing for all of the quarterbacks during OTAs. O’Connell and Minshew performed at a comparable level and, if that remains the case throughout training camp, it makes sense to roll with the younger option as the starter.
O’Connell is only in his second season, will turn 26 in September and has more upside than Minshew, who, at 28, is headed into his sixth season in the NFL. The optimistic view is O’Connell, with more experience, could make strides toward becoming an average starter this season.
O’Connell might be younger, but Minshew has plenty of productive experience to give the offense. He had a winning record (7-6 ) with the Indianapolis Colts last season and almost led their rebuilding team to a playoff appearance after rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson went down. O’Connell earned a Pro Bowl appearance last season for his play with the Colts.
How O’Connell and Minshew perform in the Raiders’ three preseason games will be critical for Pierce’s staff’s final evaluation in late August.
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