After Thursday’s preseason game in Seattle, the Raiders look to have a big decision coming on sixth-round pick Cam Miller as it’s starting to feel like the rookie quarterback could be closing the gap on Aidan O’Connell for the no. 2 spot on the Raiders’ depth chart.
O’Connell was not sharp on Thursday, and it’s fair to wonder if the coaching staff might soon have enough confidence in Miller to consider trading O’Connell.
According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, the Raiders were engaged in some level of trade conversations around O’Connell just a few months ago, so if Miller continues to pay well in the preseason, it’s possible those conversations could come around again.
“From what me and Vic [Tafur] have reported on this earlier this year… around the draft they were dangling Aidan, even before Cam Miller got here, they were dangling [Aidan O’Connell] in trade conversations,” Reed said on the Just Win Podcast.
“So they’re definitely not tethered to [O’Connell] or anything of that nature. So yeah, we’ll see. It’s only one preseason game. Nothing to overreact about, but if he keeps stinking it up like he’s been stinking it up, it’s going to become a conversation.”
One thing to remember with O’Connell, though, is that it’s reported he has been having a good training camp. One bad preseason game isn’t going to erase a solid two weeks of practice, but the third-year quarterback from Purdue could certainly use a better performance against the 49ers on Saturday.
As for Miller, it’s hard to imagine the Raiders are going to try to sneak him onto the practice squad, and if Miller makes the final cut, will the Raiders prefer to have three quarterbacks on final roster… or two quarterbacks and modest trade return on O’Connell?
x: @raidersbeat
First question: Is Aiden even worth anything significant in a trade? The tape shows he’s an INT machine, and madly inconsistent.Team’s undoubtedly see that. I doubt teams will give more than a 7th rd. pick for him. Time to see what the rook’s got. Although, it’s questionable that they go with an inexperienced rook QB as a backup.
Are we basing this off the first preseason game?
If we are. then Cam Miller should be the starter and Aidan the backup and we should cut or trade Geno Smith.
Aiden showed last Thursday what he’s always been . He may play ok once in a blue moon, but him being a backup in this league is his ceiling. If we couldn’t get McDonalds to trade for him we probably can’t get anything. I’d rather just cut him and put him on the practice squad
Maybe the rookie gets some time against better competition. He looked good against people that won’t be in the league in a few weeks. That was a tremendous pump fake.
The best the Raiders could get for AOC-a 7th rounder. And, that’s a maybe.
As long as our O-line under performes, it doesn’t matter who’s under center. That should be the real concern.
Just cut him like Bradley and Minshew and Garrapolo. Start fresh.