Rookie Aidan O’Connell started the majority of the games for the Las Vegas Raiders this season and performed admirably, leading the team to a 5-5 record in his 10 starts. But it sounds like the team is going to replace him with a new quarterback this offseason.
During a recent interview, new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce made it very clear that the team is planning to bring in a new quarterback this season – potentially through the NFL Draft – saying that he wants a long-term option at the quarterback position instead of a short-term “Band-Aid.”
“I would hope whoever we draft, that’s the route we go, that’s who the starter becomes,” Pierce said according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “You don’t want to put a Band-Aid at that position. That’s old . . . that’s old, man. I think the Raiders . . . we’ve seen that enough in this organization.”
Pierce went on to explain what he and the team will be looking for in their new quarterback.
“You want the face of your franchise to be the quarterback, to be that guy you can count on for the next 10 years,” Pierce said. “I want to go with a proven winner. And somebody that knows what it’s like to grind and go through some adversity.
“You want guys with a bunch of starts underneath their belts — you don’t want a one-hit wonder You don’t want a guy who had one year of success and say that’s the guy. You want someone who has been battle-tested that has been through adversity, had challenges and wasn’t just handed the keys. Because that’s going to be the process here no matter what we do.”
Obviously, it’s very clear that the team is bringing in someone new at quarterback, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media.
This, combined with Atlanta going after Justin Fields, certainly narrows the field for Kirk Cousins https://t.co/PYZa8eMqxz
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) February 29, 2024
Not Jaguars related, but I can’t help but think of J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. when listening to Antonio Pierce’s comments. Could be a chance we see six quarterbacks go before our pick, especially depending on medicals. https://t.co/bzb2j9aF1b
— Cardiac Cats (@cardiacatsbrand) February 29, 2024
Fields???
— SNew (@ScottNewcomb4) February 29, 2024
Just go shake the QB tree out back its easy!
— Paul Stephens (@PaulStephenGPG) February 29, 2024
He's got no other options
— Mike Gallagher (@MikeGallagher70) February 29, 2024
Yeah, because any QB you draft will be the second coming of CJ Stroud.
— TheMediaIsComplicit (@whatshisnameoh) February 29, 2024
We’ll have to see who the team brings in.
