The Las Vegas Raiders have a real quarterback competition in training camp, and coach Antonio Pierce is well equipped to decide who will lead the offense in Week 1.
Sin City veteran rookie Gardner Minshew will lead the black and silver in their season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Minshew was the backup quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts last season and was thrust into a starting role after rookie Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, then joined the Raiders this year with a chance to start.
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Gardner Minshew of the Raiders attempts a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 17, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Ian Mole/Getty Images)
He has been competing with second-year playmaker Aidan O’Connell, who Pierce selected as the starting quarterback when he was named interim head coach last season.
Pierce wasn’t the only one to approve of O’Connell as a quarterback last year, the players did too. Davante Adams admitted in the Netflix documentary series “Receivers” that he wouldn’t have been happy if Pierce hadn’t changed quarterbacks from Jimmy Garoppolo when he took over as interim head coach after the firing of Josh McDaniels.
But Pierce, who relinquished his role as interim manager, wanted to see a good, old-fashioned competition to see who would earn the right to lead the Raiders at the start of the season.
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Minshew was impressive for his new team in two preseason games, completing 16 of 33 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. O’Connell completed 21 of 29 passes for 172 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The numbers are close, but you also have to consider the financial capital the Raiders are giving Minshew, which gives another reason why Minshew ended up at the top of the roster.
Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders this offseason, while O’Connell, the team’s fourth-round pick last year, is expected to make no more than $1 million in base salary this season.
Quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell, left, and Gardner Minshew run through a drill at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on May 29, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Minshew’s salary is nowhere near what some of the league’s biggest quarterbacks are making, but it’s still high compared to O’Connell’s, and the Raiders clearly covet the on-field accomplishments Minshew has made as a journeyman.
The Raiders are Minshew’s fourth team in the NFL and his sixth season. He appeared in 17 games (13 starts) with Indy last season, throwing for a career-high 3,305 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while going 7-6.
Prior to that, he spent two seasons with Philadelphia, going 1-3 in four starts, before starting a total of 20 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in his first two seasons in the league.
Meanwhile, O’Connell started 10 games for the Raiders in his rookie season, going 5-5 for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew warms up before a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 17, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
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With another tough AFC West matchup expected this year, Minshew Mania will kick off in Las Vegas.
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