The Raiders didn’t spend a lot of energy chasing the top quarterbacks in free agency, and apparently, they didn’t think Justin Fields was worth a draft pick of any value, either.
They did, however, make a quick move to sign Gardner Minshew at the start of free agency and it looks like they will wait until the draft to add another quarterback.
As of now, Minshew and Aidan O’Connell will compete for the starting job, but based on comments from Antonio Pierce on Sunday, it sounds like O’Connell has the inside track on the job even if another quarterback is added in the weeks ahead.
“At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his *** off. He did a helluva job for us,” Pierce told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. “You’re talking about a kid that has the mental toughness to play in the National Football League. Whatever happens and whatever we do it has to go through Aidan O’Connell. Being honest with you because he’s earned that right.”
We’ll see what the Raiders do in the draft, but it’s worth keeping in mind that Pierce stayed with O’Connell through a couple of difficult stretches in his rookie year where a move back to Jimmy Garoppolo might have made sense.
O’Connell closed out the final four games of the season by posting a 3-1 record and throwing 8 touchdowns without an interception.
Those are the kind of numbers that a defensive-minded coach isn’t going to complain about… especially from a rookie.
twitter: @raidersbeat
