The Las Vegas Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal to lead their offense. However, due to a serious injury, the quarterback was benched, and Aidan O’Connell started in his place. The rookie star stood ready to continue his ascent, poised to make even greater strides.
The Raiders are ushering in a new era under new head coach Antonio Pierce’s leadership after firing Josh McDaniels. The quarterback room took a change under Pierce as the squad bid adieu to Garoppolo days ago. Pierce now sees O’Connell as the Raiders starting quarterback in the upcoming season.
Antonio Pierce seeks to promote Aidan O’Connell as Raiders QB1
The Raiders are gearing up for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for the coveted starting quarterback position. Spearheading this charge is none other than Antonio Pierce, who has thrown his weight behind Aidan O’Connell as a formidable contender for the role.
The HC mentioned O’Connell’s right to compete for the starting job, heralding him as a key player in the Raiders’ quarterback equation.
“At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his ass off. He did a helluva job for us. 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,” Pierce said per NBC Sports.
However, the Raiders’ quarterback room has recently become even more crowded with the addition of Gardner Minshew. With Minshew’s Pro Bowl credentials and O’Connell’s rising stock, the stage is set for an intense offseason battle for the QB spot.
“Like anybody else it’s all about competition..And if we can make that room the most competitive room on our team, the quarterback room, we’ll be a good football team,” Pierce added.
Meanwhile, the plot thickens with the upcoming NFL Draft, offering the potential for a third contender to enter the fray. The Raiders contemplate their options with the No. 13 overall pick, and speculation mounts about the possibility of drafting a quarterback from the 2024 class. Pierce remained open to this prospect by expressing confidence in general manager Tom Telesco’s expertise in identifying the ideal candidate to bolster the team’s quarterback roster.
Aidan O’Connell 2023 NFL season in numbers
Aidan O’Connell initially found the chance to showcase his talent in Week 4 of the 2023 season when Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a concussion. Despite the 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, O’Connell showcased his potential by completing 24 of 29 passes for 238 yards, albeit with one interception. He also threw for 141 yards while being quarterbacked three TD drives in the team’s whopping 34-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a high-voltage preseason game.
The signal-caller amassed 2,218 passing yards, throwing 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions throughout the season. He had a 5-4 record in the nine games he started. The young star’s efforts couldn’t secure a playoff berth for Las Vegas.
