there’s been lots of chatter about how the Las Vegas Raiders‘ starting quarterback will be in 2024 but Aidan O’Connell hasn’t been given much consideration. He went 5-5 in 10 starts last season but started playing well toward the end. He went 3-1 in the final four games while throwing eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.
However, his perceived lack of athletic upside has led many to write him off as a potential long-term starter. Regardless, the Raiders will have a competition for who the starting quarterback will be and that’s a position O’Connell’s most comfortable in.
“There’s going to be competition, this is the best of the best,” O’Connell said during his April 15 media availability. “I’m just trying to do my best. It’s new at this level, but I’ve had to deal with this even as early as high school.”
The Raiders signed Gardner Minshew in free agency to a $25 million contract and there’s a good chance he’s the favorite to start for now. O’Connell isn’t looking at him as a rival, though.
“I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time because of his story,” O’Connell said of Minshew. “It’s important in a QB room to be supportive.”
Aidan O’Connell Has Been Working Hard This Offseason
Aidan O’Connell could have a leg up over Gardner Minshew due to the fact that he was with the Raiders last season. He knows the players and many of the coaches. Plus, he revealed that he only took a couple of weeks off after the season before he was back working on his game.
“You’re with your guys the whole offseason in college,” O’Connell said. “I took a couple of weeks off right after the season to get away from football and rest my mind, but I like to be doing stuff throughout the year. So, even in those couple weeks, I got a little stir-crazy. I was itching to get back.”
Leave a Reply