The 2024 NFL Draft was a quarterback-heavy affair, with six quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks. However, the Las Vegas Raiders, holding the 13th overall pick, opted to look elsewhere for their play-caller. With Antonio Pierce at the helm, having taken on the head coach role after stepping in as interim head coach midseason in 2023, the Raiders have a lot riding on their quarterback choices and overall team performance.
This offseason, the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract, with $15 million guaranteed. Minshew’s arrival was expected to bring a competitive edge to the quarterback room, providing a veteran presence alongside Aidan O'Connell, the fourth-round pick from the 2023 draft. The team's preseason outings have been a mixed bag, culminating in a 27-12 home game loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Struggles Against Dallas
The game against Dallas was an opportunity for both Minshew and O'Connell to stake their claim for the starting job. Minshew’s performance was underwhelming, completing just 10 of 21 passes for 95 yards. O'Connell, too, faced challenges, achieving a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant but also being responsible for a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown by Cowboys defensive back Kemon Hall. Furthermore, O'Connell failed to convert a subsequent two-point attempt.
Coach Pierce's assessment of the quarterback performance was candid. "I'm going all the way back to OTAs, minicamp, training camp, two preseason games. There's going to be a lot of factors obviously right? Command of the offense, the operational part. Efficiency. The turnovers are huge. That shows up. Taking care of the football is going to be important for our team," Pierce explained. The turnovers were particularly costly in this game, highlighting the inconsistencies in both quarterbacks' play.
Evaluating the Camp Competition
The preseason has been a balanced battleground for Minshew and O'Connell. Pierce noted, "I mean, everything. You can't take the good and not take the bad. Wish it went well for both gentlemen. It just didn't. We'll look at it, and we'll evaluate. They both had opportunities. Aidan had 20 attempts, and Minshew had 21, so about as balanced as we can get it. We'll look at it." The coach's comments underscore the fairness with which the competition has been managed, giving each quarterback equal opportunities to prove themselves.
Despite these efforts, neither quarterback has definitively seized the starting role. "Everybody wants to see a player just take it and say, 'I'm your guy,' like I've been saying from Day 1. Obviously [that's] probably not the case," Pierce admitted. This admission suggests an ongoing search for consistency and leadership at the quarterback position, an essential factor for the Raiders’ success this season.
Looking Ahead to the Regular Season
The decision to rest the starters for the third preseason game means the evaluation period for Minshew and O'Connell will be drawn from the body of work to date. "Yeah, we've seen enough reps. Two games, like we talked about. Our guys are not playing in the third preseason game, our starters, so we'll sleep on it and make a decision in the next couple days," Pierce stated. This decision places a premium on the performances in the initial preseason games and the assessments from training camp.
As the Raiders prepare for the regular season, identifying the quarterback who can best lead the team is paramount. With Pierce already demonstrating a meticulous approach to evaluation, the final days of preseason offer one last reflective pause before the season kicks off in earnest. The Raiders' success hinges on these critical evaluations and the ability of their chosen quarterback to command the offense with efficiency and prudence.