Followers of the Las Vegas Raiders could not be blamed for feeling less-than-excited in regards to the membership’s quarterback competitors between 2023 fourth-round draft decide Aidan O’Connell and journeyman Gardner Minshew this summer time.
Throughout a latest dialog with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce did not supply essentially the most promising preview of what is to come back.
“We’re in all probability not going to be, to be trustworthy, a juggernaut offense,” Pierce admitted to Fowler. “Would I like to be? Yeah. To sit down right here and say we’ll rating 30 factors a sport, that is not practical.”
It is hardly a secret that the Raiders had been severely excited about transferring up from the thirteenth decide of the 2024 NFL Draft into the highest three choices with the intention to land a rookie quarterback. Pre-draft rumors and tales routinely linked Las Vegas with LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels, however the Washington Commanders held onto alternative No. 2 after which spent that asset to land Daniels.
Pierce and others inside the Raiders doubtless can not help however marvel what might have been each time they see a piece detailing how Daniels has impressed teammates, coaches and even opposing gamers since his first springtime exercise with Washington.
As for what Pierce desires in a starter, Fowler stated that the coach “is on the lookout for consistency, command of the huddle and, most significantly, somebody who will care for the soccer.” That is all effectively and good, however Paul Gutierrez famous in a distinct ESPN article posted on Friday that O’Connell and Minshew skilled “up-and-down play all through coaching camp” main as much as the Raiders’ preseason opener on the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon.
Pierce seemingly will not make any ultimate QB1 resolution earlier than each O’Connell and Minshew play in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 17. As of late Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed O’Connell because the betting favourite at -130 odds to start out over Minshew (+105) for the membership’s Week 1 sport on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 8.
On paper, O’Connell is the extra promising of the 2 choices concerning Las Vegas’ long-term future if solely as a result of he turns simply 26-years-old in September and is basically an unproven product who went 5-5 as a starter throughout his rookie season. Minshew, 28, might by no means be greater than a strong backup good for the occasional begin, however there’s an opportunity O’Connell might flip a figurative swap and play higher than marketed between now and Week 18.
Then once more, Pierce and the Raiders might merely be ready for a likelihood to signal Cowboys star Dak Prescott assuming he reaches free company in March 2025.
“No matter the most effective of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, we’re getting that from them,” Pierce added whereas talking with Fowler.
That “finest” clearly does not have Pierce anticipating the Raiders to finish a journey to Tremendous Bowl LIX.
