As the NFL Draft draws near, there is still talk of the Raiders selecting a quarterback in the first round or elsewhere.
The chatter persists despite last year’s starting quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, remaining on the roster. The Raiders also signed free agent Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract worth $15 million guaranteed.
Considering Minshew’s experience, it appears O’Connell could take on a reserve role this season. That becomes more likely if Las Vegas drafts a QB. But O’Connell, who started as a rookie last season, still has an opportunity to compete for the job.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told reporters gathered at the 2024 NFL Annual Meeting what O’Connell needs to do to earn his starting gig back.
“What you saw at the end of the season: taking care of the football; managing the game; putting points on the board,” Pierce said. “I would love to see him become more vocal.
“Is he ever going to become a runner? No. Not going to happen. That’s okay. But there are other ways you can do that and move around in the pocket. I think he’s done a great job this offseason, being in the building, staying in the Las Vegas area, and really working on that.”
Pierce closed his comments on O’Connell by reiterating he wants his young QB to speak up to his teammates when necessary.
“One thing I’d love to see him do is be more vocal. You don’t want the quarterback being a church mouse. I don’t need him to be a rah-rah guy either, but when things are wrong I need him to fix it and be vocal about it.”
The new Raiders culture involves players and coaches being themselves. It seems that O’Connell is naturally quiet, even though he had lots of starting experience in college.
At quarterback, that won’t do, especially when it comes to keeping other players on task, as Pierce alluded to.
Pierce displayed incredible confidence in O’Connell last season, inserting him into the starting lineup when Pierce became interim coach. O’Connell responded with a 5-4 record under Pierce. The young QB had some highs and lows — such as being shut out against the Vikings before throwing four touchdowns in a beatdown of the Chargers the following week — but he showed promise.
Now, he must continue to grow as a player as Pierce takes on a full-time coaching role. As O’Connell continues to work at the Raiders practice facility this offseason with the likes of defensive end Maxx Crosby — who, just like Pierce, rarely hesitates to speak his mind — he’s probably in the perfect environment to become more vocal by the start of training camp.
