All the discuss this offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders has been centered on their have to discover a franchise quarterback to steer this group for years to return. However the Raiders do have a younger sign caller already on the roster in Aidan O’Connell.
A fourth-round choose final season, O’Connell wound up beginning 10 video games for the Raiders and garnered the belief of many inside that locker room. Whereas he didn’t blow everybody away, O’Connell was stable and regular whereas exhibiting flashes of being a great NFL starter.
However with the group signing veteran Gardner Minshew, and the chance of the group utilizing a draft choose to usher in one other quarterback, O’Connell isn’t phased. The truth is, he’s wanting ahead to competing for the Raiders’ beginning quarterback place, through Vic Tafur of The Athletic:
“I’ve needed to compete my entire life, and I wouldn’t need it every other approach,” O’Connell stated. “The NFL is the perfect of the perfect, and it’s a must to earn every part yearly. That’s the way in which it must be. It’s my job to maintain my job. It doesn’t actually matter who they create in.”
That’s the mindset that anybody would like to see. O’Connell understands that he has to earn that spot going ahead, no matter what he did final season and he relishes that chance. Head coach Antonio Pierce is a fan of his as properly and desires to see O’Connell develop as a vocal chief:
“I feel he’s performed an important job this offseason, being within the constructing. … So, one factor I’d like to see him do is be extra vocal. You don’t need the quarterback being a church mouse. I don’t want him being a rah-rah man both, however when issues are incorrect, I would like him to repair it and be vocal about it.”
Competitors can solely assist everybody, and there shall be loads of that throughout the Raiders this season. O’Connell had the job final yr, and if he’s ok to maintain it, then he’ll. But it surely received’t be a straightforward highway as there are different hungry quarterbacks he should maintain off.
Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. a super match for Raiders?
There are a selection of intriguing quarterback prospects within the NFL Draft that the Raiders may select to pick and one identify that has popped up just lately is College of Washington star Michael Penix Jr.
One ESPN analyst feels he can be an ideal match for the Raiders on account of his skill to make each throw, in addition to him being an older prospect and thus, having the ability to step in and contribute instantly.
