As expected, the Raiders unveiled their quarterback plan after their second preseason contest. Head coach Antonio Pierce announced on Sunday that veteran Gardner Minshew will handle starting duties to begin the campaign.
That move ran counter to the way things were shaping up at the start of the offseason. Incumbent Aidan O’Connell worked with the first-team offense during the spring, and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes the 2023 fourth-rounder threw fewer interceptions during practice than Minshew (subscription required). The latter’s mobility – and the importance of that skillet in OC Luke Getsy‘s system – was a key factor in winning the competition, though.
“There’s a lot of factors, so we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that’s what we’re going with,” Pierce said when announcing the decision (via Tafur). “His personality is infectious … his leadership is infectious. Things [to improve on], footwork in the pocket, staying on script. There’s some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his thing, but there’s a lot of times where if the first or second read is there, we got to let it rip.”
O’Connell’s arm strength and accuracy were more impressive during the offseason than Minshew’s, Tafur adds, but not by a large margin. As a result, the former sixth-rounder will get the opportunity to at least kick off the season atop the depth chart. Minshew has 37 starts to his name, including 13 last year when he took over for the injured Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. His 84.6 passer rating helped keep the Colts in contention for a postseason berth through Week 18, but a more efficient output will be asked of him with the Raiders.
Minshew inked a two-year, $25MM deal in free agency and secured $15MM in guarantees in the process. The Colts were interested in keeping him in the fold as Richardson insurance, but the team was not prepared to match that financial commitment. With $3.16MM of his 2025 salary already locked in, the 28-year-old has a chance of remaining in Vegas regardless of how he performs in his latest QB1 gig.
O’Connell has three years remaining on his rookie contract, so he too should be assured of a roster spot for the foreseeable future (although the Raiders pursued a move up the first-round order during the draft to secure a quarterback and the team has frequently been named as a candidate to make a free agent addition under center next March). The Purdue alum – who drew considerable praise from Pierce after his rookie campaign and through the early portion of the offseason – could still get an opportunity if Minshew were to miss time through injury or struggle in the early going, but losing an open competition obviously represents a discouraging sign for his future starting potential in Vegas.
