ORLANDO — The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for the 2024 season, and all eyes are on the quarterback position. Last season, rookie Aidan O’Connell showed promise as the starter, going 5-5 and throwing eight touchdown passes without an interception in his final four games.
To add some competition to the mix, the Raiders signed veteran Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal in free agency. And they also have former Baltimore Ravens backup Anthony Brown on the roster. It seems like the Raiders are leaving no stone unturned in their search for a franchise passer.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has been vocal about his desire to find a quarterback in the draft. He has a personal connection to LSU’s Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, whom he initially recruited to Arizona State. However, trading up to get Daniels might be a costly endeavor, as the teams picking 1-2-3 in the draft all need quarterbacks.
During the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings, Pierce gave scouting reports on the upcoming quarterbacks in the draft. He spoke highly of J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and others. It is clear that the Raiders have their eyes on a certain quarterback or two, but they also understand that the fit and the development of the player are crucial factors in their decision-making process.
Despite the potential draft of a quarterback, there is no guarantee that the rookie will start right away. Pierce pointed