Despite acquiring veteran Gardner Minshew, the Las Vegas Raiders are a likely candidate to recruit a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. No matter what the team does next, head coach Antonio Pierce believes incumbent Aidan O’Connell will challenge for the starting job in 2024, telling NFL Network on Sunday that the 25-year-old has “earned that right.”
“At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his ass off,” Pierce said about the 2023 fourth-round pick. “He did an outstanding job for us. You’re talking about a child with the mental tenacity to play in the NFL. Whatever happens, whatever we do, it must go via Aidan O’Connell. “I’m being honest with you because he’s earned the right.”
O’Connell started 10 games as a rookie out of Purdue, tossing 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions as the Raiders finished 5-5. However, Vegas signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency, and the team also has the No. 13 overall choice in the April draft. Pierce told NFL Network that the Raiders are expected to continue adding to the position.
“I got Tom Telesco (as general manager),” Pierce stated. “We got the magician. I’ll figure out what he’s up to. He has done this for a long time. I have a lot of faith in him… (He) is knowledgeable about quarterbacks. So I’ll let him work it out.
