The Las Vegas Raiders are set to conduct a quarterback battle between Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew when training camp kicks off later this month.
Joining FS1’s “Speak” this week, star receiver Davante Adams said he doesn’t have a preference for who ultimately wins the gig.
“I want whoever is going to look the best when it’s live bullets,” Adams said. “So at the end of the day, I don’t have a preference other than I want somebody that’s confident and ready to go when it’s time to do it. So, whoever that is, that’s who I want throwing the ball.”
While many of the perceived QB competitions this year are between rookies and their bridge veterans, the Raiders’ battle is between a second-year incumbent and a free-agent addition. Given the money paid to Minshew (two years, $25 million with $15 million guaranteed), one might think he has the upper hand. Yet, all offseason, those in Vegas have insisted O’Connell owns the advantage.
Adams continued that trend this week, noting that right now, it’s O’Connell’s job to lose.
“I think right now, if I had to say, I think Aidan has the job because obviously he was here before, and that’s the way that it was,” Adams said. “He was running with the 1s more. Until Gardner comes in and takes the job away from him, I think it’s Aidan’s job right now. He’s doing what he’s got to do to hold onto it.
“We’ve still gotta keep working and do what we’ve got to do to grow and get better. We can definitely get better than where we are — he and I, our connection, him individually, even me. At this point in the year, this is not where you are gonna show your best. So, throughout camp, when we really start throwing the pads on and doing the real deal, I think that’s when we’ll be able to decide who the guy will be, and I’ll continue to keep working and getting that camaraderie with that person.”
O’Connell authored an up-and-down rookie campaign in 10 starts, but coach Antonio Pierce continued to display faith in the young QB, particularly by giving him the first-team reps during spring work.
Training camp and preseason action will decide whether O’Connell can hold on to the gig or whether Minshew ultimately wrestles it away.
