At the Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp, one of the most intriguing position battles is taking place.
Quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew are competing for the starting role in Las Vegas, and wide receiver Davante Adams believes there are some positives and negatives while the question of who will be under center to start the 2024 season is up in the air.
“There’s pros and cons [to no timeline], but at the end of the day, we get enough reps with both guys and we are all communicating,” Adams said this week, via ESPN. “We have really open conversations, and we all get reps with all the quarterbacks … and I’m definitely watching at all times, seeing everything and learning how the ball comes out with Gardner versus Aidan. I got my antennas up for everything.”
O’Connell’s 2023 performance was certainly impressive after the Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels midseason and benched Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of the fourth-round pick out of Purdue. The rookie QB completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards, accrued a 12-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a passer rating of 83.9 in 11 games played. The Raiders had a 5-5 record with O’Connell at the helm.
With the Raiders hiring Antonio Pierce as their full-time head coach, Las Vegas added a veteran to the QB room by signing Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal in free agency. In 2023, Minshew provided a spark for the Colts when he took over for QB Anthony Richardson after the rookie suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Minshew completed the season with a 7-6 record as the starter in Indianapolis, completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 3,305 yards for 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while earning his first Pro Bowl appearance.
The outcome of the quarterback competition in Las Vegas is still uncertain and is expected to be determined in the preseason. Regardless of who secures the position, they will have the advantage of having one of the league’s top receivers at their disposal.
Adams recorded his fourth consecutive 1,000-plus yard season with two different quarterbacks in 2023. This offseason, NFL fans got a treat with Netflix’s Receiver series, where Adams openly discussed his frustrations throughout last season.
Adams is excited to start the Pierce era with “a fresh slate” as the Raiders embark on a new season.
Adams stated, “The raw emotion you witnessed [on Netflix] was a truthful portrayal of our experience. It wasn’t always positive, but there were many good moments as well. While it’s a TV show and some narratives will be emphasized, it doesn’t detract from its accuracy. It accurately depicted my feelings, the team’s sentiments, and our collective state at that time.”
However, I’m currently in a great spot. I’m truly delighted to be here with the guys.
