The Las Vegas Raiders are in a new era with head coach Antonio Pierce, and it starts off with a significant quarterback battle between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew ll.
Quarterback battles have been the focus of the Raiders this offseason, and it doesn’t end with the QB1 battle; Anthony Brown Jr. and Carter Bradley are also battling for QB3.
Whoever loses the QB1 battle will still have a very important position as the backup quarterback.
With young quarterbacks like O’Connell, Brown, and Bradley, it’s beneficial to have a veteran in the quarterback room, such as Minshew, who can help their development and lead by breaking down film and leading by example.
Who Are the Las Vegas Raiders’ Quarterbacks?
Their quarterback room consists of second-year and returning starter O’Connell, sixth-year Minshew, third-year Brown, and rookie Bradley. Here is the current Raiders depth chart.
Aidan O’Connell
O’Connell is the second-year returning man selected 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft during the Josh McDaniels era. O’Connell eventually took the starting position over Jimmy Garoppolo.
O’Connell played in 11 games in 2023, starting 10 of them. He threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 62.1% completion percentage and finished with a 5-5 record in his rookie season.
“It’s a unique position,” O’Connell said of the current quarterback battle at training camp this week. “You have good plays. You have bad plays. I’m not rooting that Gardner would have bad plays because if he has good plays, normally, the offense is having good plays.
“That is a part of my role and part of being a teammate in a team sport. I’m just trying to do my best to support the guys, encourage the guys, and just lead them the best that I can.”
Some anticipate O’Connell will come out of training camp as QB1 for the Raiders.
Gardner Minshew ll
Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract with Las Vegas in March. The contract includes a $6 million signing bonus, $15 million total guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $12,500,000.
Minshew was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played for the Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles, and in 2023 he was with the Indianapolis Colts.
Last season, Minshew took over as the starter after rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending injury. He led them to a 7-6 record and was one win away from a playoff appearance.
He threw for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 62.2% competition percentage.
“I’m just trying to compete against myself. If I can get better, then I’ll be alright,” Minshew said at training camp this week.
Anthony Brown Jr.
Brown signed with the Baltimore Ravens in May 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He spent the entire season with the Ravens.
He made his first career appearance in relief of injured quarterback Tyler Huntley, completing three of five passes for 16 yards and helping the Ravens win 16–14. Brown made his first career start for the Ravens in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals due to injuries to Lamar Jackson and Huntley.
He was released from the Ravens in Sept. 2023 and didn’t sign with a team or play a snap in 2023. In Jan. 2024, he signed a contract with the Raiders and now sees himself with a potential chance to get a roster spot.
Carter Bradley
Bradley is the son of former Raiders coach and current Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
The younger Bradley signed with the Raiders in April 2024 as an undrafted free agent. He now positions himself in a quarterback battle for QB3 with teammate Brown.