Despite previously stating that the Las Vegas Raiders would hold a week long QB competition to see who will start at quarterback against the 3-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Antonio Pierce has made his decision well ahead of schedule.
Las Vegas Raiders Needing An Offensive Spark
Coming into the season, 2023 Pro Bowler Gardner Minshew was expected to take the starting QB role, with perhaps some small semblance of competition from last year’s impressive 4th round rookie, Aiden O’Connell.
Yet, with Minshew only just edging out the 2nd year pro, it was always going to be interesting to see how long the journeyman QB would be able to hold on to his role as the starter, especially on a team that did not come into the season with particularly high expectations.
With the “competition” held this week, one would imagine that the odds for starting would certainly favor O’Connell rather than Minshew.
And this seems to be so, with Aiden O’Connell ready to suit up as QB1 for the first time this season, per Ian Rapoport.
QB news: The #Raiders are making a move, as coach Antonio Pierce has named QB Aidan O’Connell as the starting QB this week.
Gardner Minshew, the starter thus far, heads to the bench. pic.twitter.com/Qt6FyxtzGV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 9, 2024
What Does This Mean For The Raiders Offense
Gardner Minshew has not had a terrible start to the season, especially with a very mediocre offensive line and one of the league’s worst rushing attacks, posting an 85.8 quarterback rating.
However, having thrown for just 4 touchdowns in 5 games, registering an average of just 202 yards/game in the process, is hardly a feat that the Raiders coaching staff will be impressed by.
No one truly believed that Gardner Minshew was the long term future of the Vegas-based franchise when he was bought in on a 2 year, $25 million deal back in March. It was thought to be a relative smart move to have a flexible contract for a player that could serve as the bridge QB for a young rookie quarterback in the 2024-2025 seasons, were they to draft one in the next year or so.
Perhaps, they would have also had in mind for him to be a mentor for O’Connell, who despite not setting the world alight as a starter in the final 10 games of the 2023 season, certainly did some impressive things during his stint – including going 5-5 in his debut season.
The Raiders’ win probability likely does not shift massively either way with either Minshew or O’Connell under center, but Vegas may well feel now is the time to give their young, 2nd year QB a shot to see what he can become.
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