The Las Vegas Raiders are yet to finalize a starting quarterback for the 2024 season and the 2024 NFL Draft is also set to kick off in just over a month.
Antonio Pierce: Aidan O'Connell has earned the right to compete for Raiders' starting job. https://t.co/NhEbjHCZun
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 24, 2024
The franchise is expected to draft a possible starting QB next month even after they have signed quarterback Gardner Minshew in free agency.
Head coach Antonio Pierce said Aidan O’Connell as the potential Raiders 2024 starter and whoever the starter is will have to compete against O’Connell, per NFL.com’s Coral Smith.
Pierce shared with Steve Wyche of NFL Network, that when training camp starts, O’Connell will compete for the quarterback starting job.
“At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his ass off. He did a helluva job for us. You’re talking about a kid who has the mental toughness to play in the National Football League. Whatever happens and whatever we do it has to go through Aidan O’Connell. Being honest with you because he’s earned that right.”
In 11 games last year, O’Connell recorded 2,218 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was a fourth-round rookie who started last season as the third-stringer and put up comparable stats to Jimmy Garoppolo, who began the season as the starter.
Minshew, the newly added to the quarterback mix, will have to put a competitive off-season, so the teams can determine who will be the starter.
Pierce said on Minshew,w
“Like anybody else, it’s all about competition. And if we can make that room the most competitive room on our team, the quarterback room, we’ll be a good football team.”
Minshew, threw for 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions after taking over as the Indianapolis Colts starter.
