As the Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2024 season, it’s a crucial year for the franchise. Las Vegas has a lot of talent across the offensive side of the ball, but the team’s quarterback situation is a little underwhelming. Where things stand for now, the Raiders are expected to have Garden Minshew and Aidan O’Connell battle things out for the starting job during the season. While both players have potential, it’s not a great spot to be in for a team that wants to win at the highest level.
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Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce re-signed with the team during the offseason, bringing a sense of continuity to the franchise. But he knows that the team needs to perform well this year, even if the odds are stacked against them. The quarterback position is the most important in all of sports, so figuring out who will lead the team forward will be critical in Las Vegas finding any success this season.
Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams appeared on Fox Sports 1’s Speak earlier this week and discussed the quarterback battle brewing entering the season.
“I think right now, if I had to say, I think Aidan has the job because obviously he was here before, and that’s the way that it was,” Adams said. “He was running with the 1s [the first unit] more. Until Gardner comes in and takes the job away from him, I think it’s Aidan’s job right now. He’s doing what he’s got to do to hold onto it.”
Adams did mention that he has no preference when it comes to who is under center. All Adams cares about is having a quarterback who is confident and can get the job done on the field.
“I want whoever is going to look the best when it’s live bullets,” Adams said. “So at the end of the day, I don’t have a preference other than I want somebody that’s confident and ready to go when it’s time to do it. So, whoever that is, that’s who I want throwing the ball.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs across the field against the Denver Broncos in the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2024…
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images
This past season, O’Connell appeared in 11 games for the Raiders, throwing for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He performed well for being a rookie quarterback. The Raiders appear to have faith in him for the long haul. As for Minshew, he was with the Indianapolis Colts last season, throwing for 3,305 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Minshew showed a lot of promise with the Colts and received a lucrative contract in free agency from Las Vegas.
Minshew signed a two-year contract with the Raiders that is worth $25 million. Teams don’t typically pay backup quarterbacks that type of money, so Minshew could have an edge over O’Connell in the battle before training camp. But whoever takes the job will need to make sure Adams is happy throughout the season. He is the key to the Raiders’ offense clicking, so building chemistry with him will likely be a massive part of who wins the job.
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