SEPTEMBER 25: Pierce ended the suspense regarding his starter, declaring Wednesday that Minshew “is the quarterback.” It would have been strange for the new HC to bring forth a change so soon, but leaving the door open as he did does leave this situation unstable before September’s end.
SEPTEMBER 24: Gardner Minshew did not finish the Raiders’ Week 3 loss to the Panthers, and Antonio Pierce left the door open to benching the quarterback he went with after a months-long position battle. It does not appear Pierce is ready to pull the plug just yet.
The Raiders parked Minshew during a stunning loss, and Pierce declined to confirm postgame his starting QB plan would remain the same. Aidan O’Connell entered and completed 9 of 12 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, coming in weeks after losing a close competition to the more experienced passer. O’Connell may well have a chance to start again, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates Minshew will remain at the controls for the Raiders in Week 4.
Although Pierce criticized certain Raider players for their effort in the team’s home defeat, Minshew is barely a week removed from leading the team to a comeback win in Baltimore. The former Jaguars and Colts starter completed 30 of 38 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens; a switch to O’Connell two weeks later would certainly feel premature. But a change will be a Raiders storyline to monitor, as this is a transition season that features Minshew as a placeholder.
Signed in the event the Raiders did not end up with a quarterback prospect in the draft, Minshew inked a two-year, $25MM deal. That led all non-Kirk Cousins FA quarterbacks this offseason. Minshew played effectively in helping the Colts stay in the playoff race last season, and Indianapolis currently is not enjoying the kind of stability — albeit without a high ceiling — its primary 2023 starter offered. After ranking 13th in QBR last season, Minshew sits 24th through three games.
The Raiders showed steady interest in trading up for Jayden Daniels, most likely being the only team to submit an offer to the Commanders for No. 2 overall. Las Vegas also discussed the Nos. 3-5 picks, with Pierce potentially readier to part with necessary assets in a trade-up compared to GM Tom Telesco‘s mindset. Linked to Michael Penix Jr., the Raiders were not prepared to trade up for the player the Falcons surprisingly chose at No. 8 overall. Once the Broncos drafted Bo Nix at 12, the Raiders were effectively locked out of first-round-level QBs. They then chose Brock Bowers, effectively tabling their quarterback plan to 2025.
Vegas links to the likes of Carson Beck, Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers figure to emerge in the coming weeks and months, though those passers’ values have yet to crystalize. Minshew’s contract guarantees $3.16 of his $11.84MM 2025 base salary, giving the Raiders some flexibility next year. O’Connell, who started every game during Pierce’s interim HC season (after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s benching), is signed through 2026. He makes more sense as a Raiders 2025 bridge option/eventual backup compared to Minshew, who could be a trade candidate next year.
O’Connell was believed to be ahead of Minshew for several weeks this offseason, only to lose the battle due to the coaching staff’s feeling the latter option was better equipped to help this team avoid a slow start. With the Raiders at 1-2, Minshew will begin to test Pierce’s patience. The 28-year-old passer remains at the helm in Pierce’s first season as a full-time HC. The leash still appears short, as it always looked to be, but the sixth-year passer will hold off O’Connell for at least one more week.
Way too early to bench Minshew. It was a terrible loss on Sunday, but you basically are telling your players that you have no faith in your starting QB if you benched him. This team isn’t making playoffs even with Minshew playing at a high level. They can’t afford to lose games against teams with subpar talent like Carolina and expect to get a wild card spot.
I can see them trading for Bryce Young soon enough.
Why would you trade for Young? He’s awful. Dalton proved that against the Raiders.
Same reason why former 1st rounds pick get traded regardless of the production that’s on tape? Potential.I’m not saying they should get BY, but who else is available that will make a difference for them? Remember this was the same team who wanted Jayden Daniels as it’s QB and were looking to trade up to 2nd. Anything is possible with this team.
Anything? How about a trade for Deshaun Watson?
Don’t be so quick to bury guys. You don’t know the future
You’re right, but I wouldn’t trade anything more than a 6th for him.
That’s fair man. Definitely a day 3 pick
I agree. But I think the Panthers owner is so out of whack that he would want something higher. That’s not possible. What’d the niners get for Lance? That may be the cost.
He was a former 1/1. At some point, he was highly valued by everyone I read. Could they all have been this wrong, or could it be Carolina?
It’s possible they could’ve all been wrong. I think of Robert Gallery. “Can’t miss O-lineman” coming out by just about everyone. Raiders chose him. If I remember correctly it came down to Gallery and Larry Fitzgerald. Raiders had needs at both and had their choice of both. We obviously know how that worked out.
You don’t even have to go to another position. How about they all thought Trevor Lawrence was going to be the next Peyton Manning.
If you think Gardner is the problem then it’s gotta be a personal thing for you. Meaning you just don’t like Gardner regardless of what he does. Raiders O-line is terrible. Can’t run the ball and the play calling is suspect. Very. I’d start with those
Las Vegas should make phone calls for Mac Jones, Sam Howell, Malik Willis, or Kenny Pickett
Nathan Peterman, Mike Glennon and DeShone Kizer still available?
Hahahaahhahahahahaha
They have a dicey line and the worst run game in football. I don’t think Minshew is a franchise quarterback or anything, but O’Connell ain’t gonna fix what’s wrong.
He did have a good drive and they threw the ball every snap.
I think having a dicey line and the worst run game in football have an effect on that, don’t you?
Yes along with questionable play calling.
Gotta remember he did that in garbage time. Very vanilla defense at that point. No exotic packages. He also almost threw an INT
Their line isn’t great, but it’s not terrible either. Minshew is bad about running out of the pocket and creating pressure for himself. Probably because he can’t see easily over the line, but that’s definitely happening.
This is quite a bit of hand wringing over one game, isn’t it? The Raiders are three games in, and are 1-2. Minshew’s thrown for 747, with 3 TDS and 3 INTs. It’s not the end of the world yet.
The defense getting lit up by a previously lifeless Carolina offense is not a reflection of Minshew. This is just a strange reaction. If the defense fails, bench the QB. If the weather is bad, bench the quarterback. If the beer vendor spills his cart, bench the QB. Nonsensical at best.
Gambling interests are messing up the ability to assess a team’s real ability/standing in the league. Are the Raiders a good team or a bad team? Who can tell…
And you can ask the same question about a dozen other teams.
Another example in a long line of the classic, never let the players pick the coach.
Never let Mark Davis pick the coach either, though.
He’s a .500 coach since taking over. What exactly has he done so terribly? Until last week, he had one of the best defenses in football on his watch, something we haven’t been able to say about the Raiders in any area for a long time.
The team can’t be expected to grow…..
Without a……………………………………….
(WAIT FOR IT)………………………………….
GARDNER !!
I remember all the people here saying the Raiders would be crazy to trade up and try to get in position for Daniels. Sounds like a rather crazy take now.
It was never going to happen.