Last offseason the Las Vegas Raiders looked to alleviate their quarterback concerns by signing veteran Gardner Minshew who would enter into a competition with the returning Aidan O’Connell. Minshew would win that training camp competition and go into the season as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, but things went downhill quickly.
Minshew struggled, throwing for just 2,013 yards and nine touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 10 games for the Raiders before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone. A year later, the Raiders are ready to move on from the veteran.
According to Ryan McFadden of ESPN, the Raiders are expected to release Minshew when free agency begins a week from now:
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to release quarterback Gardner Minshew when free agency begins next week, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Minshew, 28, signed a two-year, $25 million free agent contract last offseason with $15 million guaranteed. He has a cap hit of $14 million in 2025, and $3.16 million of guaranteed money left on his deal. The Raiders could save $9.3 million by making him a post-June 1 cut.
This was a pretty expected move and one the Raiders simply had to make. Minshew is clearly not the answer at quarterback for the long term, and the franchise is looking for someone else to take over the job. Additionally, with O’Connell still on the roster, there isn’t even a spot for Minshew as the backup.
The question now is who the Raiders will bring in as their next starter. The team was linked to Los Angeles Rams veteran Matthew Stafford, but he has since restructured his deal to remain in L.A. The Raiders have also been linked to Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson, not to mention draft prospects like Shedeur Sanders, so there are multiple different routes they could take.
The Raiders missed on Minshew, but they have quickly recognized that and are moving on immediately as they look to turn the corner and be a true playoff contender.
Gardner Minshew isn’t the only player who could be on the move, as the Raiders are reportedly shopping tight end Michael Mayer and running back Zamir White.
Mayer took a step back last season as Brock Bowers emerged as an All-Pro tight end while White significantly underperformed after coming into the season as the team’s starter in the backfield. If the Raiders can get some draft capital for either or both, it could help them fill some more holes on the roster.
