Will the Las Vegas Raiders regret not drafting a quarterback?
Aug 22, 2024, 4:42 PM | Updated: 4:46 pm
Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Vic Tafur, Las Vegas Raiders’ beat reporter for The Athletic, joined The Drive Guys on Thursday afternoon to discuss the current state of the Raiders’ quarterbacks, if they should have been more aggressive in chasing one in the 2024 NFL Draft, their strengths coming into the season, and more.
The trio started their discussion by asking Tafur if he believes the team would have preferred Aiden O’Connell as their first quarterback option, even though they ultimately decided on veteran Gardner Minshew.
As the conversation continued, they dove into Las Vegas’ likely thought process throughout the draft, why their defense should be the strength going into next season, and plenty more!
The full conversation can be heard on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube using the link above.
More on the Raiders selecting Gardner Minshew as QB1
“Experience. The operation, the processing. Everything we saw in practice, some of it showed up in the games,” Pierce said. “Lot of stuff he can get better at; I don’t think anything here is a finished product. Based off where we want to go in the first quarter of the season, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity.”
Minshew, 28, was signed in the offseason as a free agent after spending last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He passed for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 17 games (13 starts) and was a Pro Bowler for the first time.
But with the Colts committed to Anthony Richardson as their long-term option at quarterback, Minshew departed and chose the Raiders as his best option to get on the field in 2024.
O’Connell, 25, completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games last season after being a fourth-round pick out of Purdue. He was 5-5 in his 10 starts.
He was especially good late in the season, firing eight touchdown passes against no interceptions over the final four games.
–Field Level Media
When do the Las Vegas Raiders begin the regular season?
- Sunday, September 8th – @ Los Angeles Chargers
- Sunday, September 15th – @ Baltimore Ravens
- Sunday, September 22nd – vs. Carolina Panthers
- Sunday, September 29th – vs. Cleveland Browns
- Sunday, October 6th – @ Denver Broncos
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