So Sad: Trevon Moehrig-Woodard Ends Relationship with las vegas raiders Star After finding out he was………Read More…
“Perhaps the league’s most underwhelming QB situation will involve a battle between 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and veteran newcomer Gardner Minshew. Minshew was solid (13th in QBR) in place of injured Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis last season, whereas O’Connell held down the fort (25th) after replacing Jimmy Garoppolo in Las Vegas. The Raiders will need O’Connell to make a big leap and become a gem Day 3 find.”
While applauding the Raiders’ defensive line, Clay said “DT depth behind [Christian] Wilkins is a concern.”
Is it, though? Returning Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler had to find his groove with a new team last season but is someone his coaches and teammates are high on. Byron Young is also still coming into his own and was merely a rookie in a defensive tackle room that saw John Jenkins, Bilal Nichols and Jerry Tillery have great seasons.
In an article from ESPN posted on Tuesday, ESPN analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder ranked the Raiders’ roster 26th in the NFL. The only teams below them were the New England Patriots (27), Arizona Cardinals (28), Carolina Panthers (29), Washington Commanders (30), Denver Broncos (31) and New York Giants (32).
Clay also projected starting lineups for each team and had some interesting takes, but none that are outrageous. He had Gardner Minshew II starting at quarterback and veteran wideout Michael Gallup starting in that WR3 spot. That’s a spot that will be one to watch come training camp.
Veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew was thought to be in the driver’s seat for the starting position with the Las Vegas Raiders when he signed with the team this offseason, but second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell isn’t giving up his spot so easily.
On Sunday’s episode of SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that it’s actually O’Connell who has a leg up in the Raiders’ quarterback competition thanks in part to his prior relationship with star receiver Davante Adams.
“O’Connell and Minshew in the spring went tit for tat; went after it. O’Connell probably has the slight edge right now based on coming into Year 2, being more vocal,” Fowler said. “I’m told he’s acting like a starting quarterback and Davante Adams loves him, which always helps certainly with the brownie points.”
