Once the Raiders exited the 2024 draft without a new quarterback in tow, it became clear that 2023 fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell and free agent acquisition Gardner Minshew would compete for the starting job. Despite Minshew’s more extensive experience and the fact that he signed a notable contract with Las Vegas this offseason – two years, $25MM – head coach Antonio Pierce said back in March that the road to the QB1 post would go through O’Connell.
Following mandatory minicamps in June, O’Connell seemingly still had a slight edge over Minshew, with the understanding that training camp would serve as the definitive test. As Albert Breer of SI.com writes, the competition between the two passers is real, and O’Connell continues to acquit himself nicely. Per Breer, the second-year pro carried himself like a starter throughout spring practices, played well, and won the trust of the club’s veteran core, including wideout Davante Adams (who appears to have had a say in the Raiders’ 2023 decision to bench veteran Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of O’Connell).
That said, Pierce has walked back his March comments just a bit, noting that there is not yet a leader in the Minshew-O’Connell race and that he is not in a hurry to name a starter.
Pierce said he would make his decision, “when it’s right, when it’s obvious…[when] it’s a no-brainer. No need to rush it. But when it’s clear, when it’s evident, then you need to make that decision” (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez).
Obviously, those comments offer nothing by way of a timeframe, and it is fair to expect the competition to carry over into the preseason slate. In the meantime, Minshew and O’Connell will presumably continue splitting first-team reps.
O’Connell, who will turn 26 before the start of the 2024 campaign, struggled with turnovers early in his time at the helm in 2023 before settling down in that regard; over the course of his final six games, he posted a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Raiders relied on a ground-heavy attack during that time, but the Purdue alum offered enough to suggest he could develop into a starting-caliber option. Increasing his 202 passing yards per game average to an extent would be necessary to achieve that, of course.
The 28-year-old Minshew, by contrast, is more of a known commodity. The former Jaguar and Eagle joined the Colts last offseason to reunite with Shane Steichen, who served as Minshew’s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia over the 2021-22 seasons before accepting Indianapolis’ HC post in February 2023. That move proved to be an important one for player and team alike since Anthony Richardson spent much of his rookie campaign on the sidelines due to injury. Minshew logged 13 starts and threw for a career-high 3,305 yards last season, nearly leading Indianapolis to a postseason berth and earning a Pro Bowl invite in the process.
In the poll of PFR readership that we published earlier this month, nearly two-thirds of the voters predicted that Minshew would win the starting gig.
It’s Mahomes’ division. Doesn’t matter who they start, but I’m pulling for Minshew.
In other Walmart news, O’Connell aiding gardener in men’s shoe department.
Hadn’t realized until now that Aidan O’Connell is two months older than Jordan Love.
Pierce can’t name the QB1 because that guy won’t be drafted until next spring. O’Connell and Minshew are simply competing for the backup role one of them will inherit at that time.
If he’s smart he goes with Gardner. Down here the Jags are always on the TV on Sunday. Gardner has the ability to make guys play above their ability. He’s definitely a “homer” in the sense that he is all in on the team he’s playing for. He’s their biggest cheerleader and takes the blame when something goes wrong (doesn’t pass the buck). In my humble opinion the Raiders have a good team to begin with and I’ve always wondered how good Gardner could be on a good team that also has a decent offensive coordinator. He took a lot of blame in Jacksonville for a very subpar offensive that was always so close but just not quite good enough, and a predictable offensive coordinator. When people in the stands are yelling out what the plays are going to be you know the offense is way to predictable. I hope Gardner gets a chance to show off what he can do.
Start whoever looks best, but it feels like it would be a smoother transition going from AOC to Minshew than the reverse.
And I’d like to see AOC get as long a look as possible. I’d like a bit more clarity going into the 2025 draft.
The Raiders have no running back or offensive line to speak of, thus whoever is QB1 is going to need to carry the offense for them. I doubt either O’Connell or Minshew is up to that task.
Tom Brady