The Las Vegas Raiders made it very clear that they intended to upgrade the quarterback position this offseason, and they already have, bringing in veteran Gardner Minshew. It’s also expected that the Raiders could select a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. But it sounds like the team is also going to let Aidan O’Connell compete for the starting job, too.
Aidan O’Connell took over as the team’s starting quarterback after the Raiders benched veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And even though Las Vegas is bringing in some new faces at the position, Raiders new head coach Antonio Pierce made it clear that that O’Connell has “earned that right” to compete for the team’s starting quarterback job.
“At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his [behind] off. He did a helluva job for us,” Pierce said during an interview with Steve Wyche of NFL Network. “You’re talking about a kid that has the mental toughness to play in the National Football League. Whatever happens and whatever we do it has to go through Aidan O’Connell. Being honest with you because he’s earned that right.”
So while Minshew might be the team’s starter and they still might select a new quarterback in the draft, it sounds like O’Connell will also get a chance.
[NFL.com]
